NABI BRT

Last updated

NABI 60-BRT / NABI 42-BRT
Foothill Transit NABI 42-BRT F1911 (8172861152) (cropped).jpg
Santa Monica RapidBlue NABI 60-BRT 5302.jpg
Top: NABI 42-BRT (2012)
Bottom: NABI 60-BRT (2011)
Overview
Manufacturer NABI
Also called
  • Metro Liner
Production
  • 2004–15 (60-BRT)
  • 2006–15 (42-BRT)
Body and chassis
Class Transit bus
Body style Monocoque
Layout RR
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 308 in (7.82 m) (42') [1]
  • F:239 in (6.07 m) / R:279 in (7.09 m) (60') [2]
Lengthover bumpers:
  • 43 ft 3 in (13.2 m) (42') [3]
  • 60 ft 9 in (18.5 m) (60') [3]
Width102 in (2.59 m) [1] [2] [3]
Height133 in (3.38 m) [1] [2] [3]
Curb weight
  • 30,450 lb (13,800 kg) (42') [4]
  • 45,870 lb (20,800 kg) (60') [5]
Chronology
Predecessor

The NABI BRT is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 60' articulated (60-BRT) and later 42' rigid (42-BRT) nominal lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 2004 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid.

Contents

The NABI BRT was styled to resemble a light-rail vehicle for service on bus rapid transit lines, joining the existing NABI LFW and NABI CompoBus product lines. After New Flyer acquired NABI in 2013, all NABI product lines were discontinued in 2015, once existing orders for NABI buses had been fulfilled.

Design

LACMTA #9208 (60-BRT) in G Line (Orange) service (2013) Metro Liner from the Surfliner.jpg
LACMTA #9208 (60-BRT) in G Line (Orange) service (2013)

The NABI 60-BRT was designed in response to a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) request for proposal for the rolling stock on its forthcoming Orange Line (now G Line), which specified a vehicle that was "sleek, streamlined, and aerodynamic", carried three extra-wide doors to facilitate faster boarding, and were less noisy (78 dBA) than typical transit buses.

The NABI 60-BRT bus NABI designed for the contract was announced in 2003, [6] and production started in 2004. [7] A pilot vehicle was delivered in fall 2004 [8] for a two-month trial, and the first 28 60-BRTs (which MTA called 'Metro Liners') were delivered in June 2005. [9] : 14 

NABI's initial as-bid price was US$633,000(equivalent to $1,021,000 in 2023). [9] : 13  To meet regional air quality requirements, the buses were equipped with Cummins 320 L-Gas Plus CNG engines, with a fuel storage capacity of 27,088 cu ft (767.0 m3) in 12 storage tanks, providing a range of 400 miles (640 km).

The NABI BRT featured a double roof providing a space 18 inches (460 mm) tall, extending the length of the vehicle, which could be used to store HVAC equipment, natural gas tanks (for CNG-fueled vehicles), or batteries (for hybrid vehicles). [3] Like prior NABI buses, body shells were assembled in Hungary and shipped to the NABI plant in Anniston, Alabama for finishing [10] [11] : 7–9  until body production was shifted to Anniston gradually starting in 2011; by late 2012, the transition was complete. [12]

NABI introduced by a similarly styled 42-foot rigid bus in 2006. [13] LACMTA was the first customer for this model, as well, followed by LA World Airport's "FlyAway" service and Foothill Transit over the following year.

A single 65-foot model (65-BRT) was built and sold to LACMTA. [14] The extended 65-BRT (nicknamed 'Longfellow') was introduced to service in September 2007 and required a special permit from CalTrans; to keep its weight similar to the 60-BRT, it only carries 8 CNG tanks as opposed to the 60-BRT's 12. [9] : 14, 15 

On the stamped vehicle identification plate, the vehicle type is identified as xxBRT.nn, where xx gives the nominal length (in feet) and nn is the sequentially-assigned order number, [15] starting from 01. [16]

Hybrid

Six model 42-BRT buses delivered to LACMTA in 2008 used a unique "Thundervolt" gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain from ISE Corporation. The system proved to be unreliable and after ISE went bankrupt in 2010, LACMTA was unable to get support for the system. The buses were eventually repowered. [17] The buses were never repowered and eventually just sat in the Long Beach yard.

The largest user of hybrid NABI BRT buses was WMATA, who placed an order in July 2013 for 105 diesel-electric hybrid 42-BRT buses. [18] These buses used a more reliable combination of a Cummins ISL9 engine mated with the Allison Transmission H 40 hybrid system which is coupled to the engine in lieu of a conventional transmission.

Deployment

The first NABI 60-BRT buses were delivered to LACMTA in October 2004; [7] LACMTA was also the first customer for the 42-BRT, delivered in 2008. The final NABI BRT buses to be built were completed in 2015: the 60-BRT for Transfort, serving Fort Collins, Colorado and the 42-BRT for Massport, serving Logan Airport in Boston. [19] The NABI factory in Anniston was then retooled to produce New Flyer Xcelsior low-floor buses for the United States transit market. [20]

Most of the BRT production was for the 60-BRT model. LACMTA was the largest customer, with almost 400 60-BRTs delivered. [16] The seat fabric for LACMTA's fleet of Metro 45C CompoBus and 60-BRT Metro Liners was designed by Beep'Inc., a collaboration of artist Pae White and architect Tom Marble. [21]

Competition

Related Research Articles

North American Bus Industries, Inc. (NABI) was a manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses with its headquarters, bus manufacturing and assembly operations, located in Anniston, Alabama. Its products ranged from 31-feet to 60-feet in length, and were sold to operators throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. NABI's U.S. operations also include an aftermarket parts division in Delaware, Ohio, and an after-sales service center at Mira Loma, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neoplan Transliner (North America)</span> Public transport single-decker bus model

The Neoplan Transliner was a series of related public transport single-decker bus models introduced by Neoplan USA in 1981 and produced until the company declared bankruptcy in 2006. It was available in various lengths ranging from 26 ft (8 m) to 60 ft (18 m) articulated, and was marketed against the Rapid Transit Series, Flxible Metro, Gillig Phantom, New Flyer High Floor, and Orion I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NFI Group</span> Manufacturer of transit buses and motorcoaches based in Winnipeg, Canada

NFI Group Inc. is a Canadian multinational bus manufacturer, based in Winnipeg, Canada. The company employs 8,000 people across 50 facilities in nine countries. NFI Group owns Alexander Dennis, ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, Motor Coach Industries, New Flyer, Plaxton, NFI Parts, and Carfair Composites. The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI, and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion Bus Industries</span> Bus manufacturer based in Ontario, Canada (1975-2013)

Orion Bus Industries, also known as Bus Industries of America in the United States, was a private bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation</span> Municipal corporation founded in 1971

The Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation (GLPTC) is a municipal corporation founded in 1971 that provides bus services in Tippecanoe County, Indiana under the operating name of CityBus. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 4,447,400, or about 17,100 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)</span> Bus transit service in the US federal district

Metrobus is a bus service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Its fleet consists of 1,595 buses covering an area of 1,500 square miles (3,900 km2) in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. There are 269 bus routes serving 11,129 stops, including 2,554 bus shelters. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 103,438,600, or about 399,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion V</span> Transit bus

The Orion V was a line of rigid high-floor transit buses available in 32', 35', and 40' lengths manufactured by Ontario Bus Industries between 1989 and 2009. The conventionally powered buses, either with longitudinally mounted diesel or natural gas engines, used a T-drive transmission coupling. The Orion V replaced the Orion I, and was in turn replaced by the low-floor Orion VI and Orion VII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion VI</span> Low-floor transit bus

The Orion VI was a low-floor transit bus available in 40' lengths manufactured by Ontario Bus Industries between 1995 and 2003. The Orion VI was intended to provide an alternative to the existing high-floor Orion V; both the V and VI were replaced by the partially low-floor Orion VII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Metro bus fleet</span> Transit bus fleet operated and contracted by LACMTA

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates a vast fleet of buses for its Metro Bus and Metro Busway services. As of September 2019, Metro has the third largest bus fleet in North America with 2,320 buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion VII</span> Low-floor transit bus

The Orion VII is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 30' rigid, 35' rigid, and 40' rigid lengths manufactured by Daimler Buses North America's subsidiary Orion Bus Industries between 2001 and 2013 in three generations. The conventional powered buses, either with longitudinally-mounted diesel or natural gas engines, used a T-drive transmission coupling. A series hybrid variant powered by a diesel-driven generator was also available. The Orion VII replaced the fully low-floor Orion VI and high-floor Orion V buses, and was manufactured until its parent company DaimlerChrysler withdrew from the transit bus market in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Bus LFS</span> Motor vehicle

The Low Floor Series (LFS) is a series of transit buses manufactured by Nova Bus for North American customers from 1996 to the present. It is produced in 40' rigid and 62' articulated (nominal) lengths with a variety of powertrains, including conventionally-fueled, hybrid diesel-electric, and battery-electric. The LFS is the first transit bus designed by Nova Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer Xcelsior</span> Line of transit buses built by New Flyer

The New Flyer Xcelsior is a line of transit buses available in 35-foot rigid, 40-foot rigid, and 60-foot articulated nominal lengths manufactured by New Flyer Industries since 2008. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses are sold with a variety of propulsion systems: conventional diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), diesel-electric hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, overhead electric wire and battery electric. A future autonomous bus variant was announced in January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer</span> Canadian multinational bus manufacturer

New Flyer is a Canadian multinational bus manufacturer, specializing in the production of transit buses. New Flyer is owned by the NFI Group, a holding company for several bus manufacturers. New Flyer has several manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States that produce the company's main product, the New Flyer Xcelsior family of buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer Low Floor</span> American low-floor transit buses

The New Flyer Low Floor is a line of low-floor transit buses that was manufactured by New Flyer Industries between 1991 and 2014. It was available in 30-foot rigid, 35-foot rigid, 40-foot rigid, and 60-foot articulated lengths. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid, gasoline hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer High Floor</span> American passenger bus type

The New Flyer High Floor is a line of conventional (high-floor) transit buses available in 35-foot rigid, 40-foot rigid, and 60-foot articulated lengths manufactured by New Flyer Industries between 1987 and 2006. The buses were powered by conventional diesel or natural gas engines using either V-drive or T-drive transmission couplings, with the exception of an articulated electric trolleybus variant manufactured for a single customer, the San Francisco Municipal Railway. The New Flyer Low Floor, a low-floor bus with a similar external appearance, was introduced in 1991 and proved to be more popular than the High Floor, which was discontinued in 1996 in diesel rigid form. CNG high-floor buses continued to be made until 1999, and the articulated version was manufactured until early 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NABI LFW</span> American low-floor transit buses

The NABI LFW is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 30' rigid, 35' rigid, 40' rigid, and 60' articulated lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 1997 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of powertrains, including conventional diesel, LNG, and CNG combustion engines along with a diesel-electric hybrid system

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NABI SFW</span> American standard (high)-floor transit buses

The NABI SFW is a line of standard (high)-floor transit buses available in 40-foot rigid and 60-foot articulated nominal lengths, manufactured by the Ikarus USA joint venture, then by American Ikarus and North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 1989 and 2013. In addition to the different lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, including conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines and hybrid diesel-electric power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NABI CompoBus</span> Motor vehicle

The NABI CompoBus is a line of low-floor composite-bodied transit buses available in 40' and 45' rigid lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 2002 and 2013. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and LNG/CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENC Axess</span> Motor vehicle

The ENC Axess is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 35-foot and 40-foot nominal lengths manufactured by ENC in Riverside, California starting from 2003. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses are sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel, LNG/CNG combustion engines, diesel-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell with a traction motor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENC E-Z Rider</span> Motor vehicle

The ENC E-Z Rider and its successor E-Z Rider II are a line of low-floor, mid-sized, heavy-duty transit buses available in 30', 32', and 35' nominal lengths manufactured by ENC in Riverside, California starting from 1996. In addition to the different lengths, the buses are available with several powertrain options including traditional diesel, CNG, LNG, Propane, and diesel-electric hybrid.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "BRT model information". nabiusa.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "General Specifications: 60-BRT". North American Bus Industries, Inc. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)" (PDF). North American Bus Industries, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2011.
  4. ↑ STURAA Test: 12 Year 500,000 Mile Bus from NABI, Model 42.5-BRT.01 (PDF) (Report). Bus Testing and Research Center, The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute. May 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  5. ↑ STURAA Test: 12 Year 500,000 Mile Bus from North American Bus Industries, Inc., Model 60 BRT (PDF) (Report). Bus Testing and Research Center, The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute. April 2005. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Los Angeles Board Votes to Award Contract to NABI for 60-Foot BRT Vehicles" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. February 27, 2003. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006.
  7. 1 2 "NABI and LA unveil new 60-BRT" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. October 8, 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Metro Liner Debuts at Media Event" (PDF). MyMetro.Net. October 15, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 Flynn, Jennifer; Thole, Cheryl; Perk, Victoria; Samus, Joseph; Van Nostrand, Caleb (October 2011). Metro Orange Line BRT Project Evaluation (PDF) (Report). Federal Transit Administration. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "NABI - North American Bus Industries". Coachbuilt. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ Global Bus Innovation: NABI Annual Report and Accounts (PDF) (Report). North American Bus Industries, Inc. 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ "NABI production now entirely in U.S." Metro Magazine. May 14, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  13. ↑ "NABI Debuts Stylized Bus Model 42-BRT at the APTA Conference" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. May 8, 2006. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006.
  14. ↑ "Los Angeles Metro Rolls Out North America's First 65-foot Articulated Compressed Natural Gas Bus on Metro Orange Line" (Press release). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 27, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  15. ↑ "2004 NABI 60B.01 OFFSITE, DISMANTLER ONLY, 9am from Riverside, Inspection Friday 1/17 9-1pm MTA 970". ProxiBid. January 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Kristopans, Andre (October 27, 2014). "IKARUS / NABI Models and Order Numbers". Utah Rails. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Convert six (6) hybrid buses to super low emission (SLEB) transit buses" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  18. ↑ "New Flyer to supply D.C. Metro with 654 NABI buses" (Press release). BusWorld. July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  19. ↑ Kristopans, Andre (March 14, 2017). "North American Bus Industries". Utah Rails. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  20. ↑ "New Flyer to Focus on Xcelsior® as Single Heavy-Duty and BRT Transit Bus Platform" (Press release). New Flyer of America. June 24, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Metro Bus Seat Fabric". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
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