Orion V

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Orion V
TTC bus 9436 at Sherbourne and Bloor, 2014 12 17 (6) (15860472220).jpg
MTA Bus Company Orion V CNG (1995).jpg
Orion V buses operated by the Toronto Transit Commission and the New York MTA
Top: Diesel (formerly CNG); Bottom: CNG
Overview
Manufacturer Ontario/Orion Bus Industries
Production1989–2009
Assembly
Body and chassis
Class Transit bus
Body style Monocoque
Layout RR
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 180 in (4.57 m) (32') [1] [2]
  • 219 in (5.56 m) (35') [1] [2]
  • 280 in (7.11 m) (40') [1] [2]
Lengthover bumpers:
  • 32 ft 4.6 in (9.9 m) (32') [1] [2] [3]
  • 35 ft 7.5 in (10.9 m) (35') [1] [2] [4]
  • 40 ft 8.5 in (12.4 m) (40') [2] [5]
Width96 in (2.44 m) [32' or 35'] [1] or
102 in (2.59 m) [35' or 40'] [1]
Height121 to 134 in (3.07 to 3.40 m) [1]
Curb weight
  • 25,500 to 28,800 lb (11,600 to 13,100 kg) (diesel) [2] [3] [4] [5]
  • 26,150 to 31,700 lb (11,900 to 14,400 kg) (CNG) [2]
Chronology
Predecessor
Successor

The Orion V was a line of rigid high-floor transit buses available in 32', 35', and 40' lengths manufactured by Ontario Bus Industries (renamed Orion Bus Industries in 1995) 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 (introduced in 1993) and Orion VII (introduced in 2001).

Contents

Design

A 2000 Orion V (05.501) 40 foot bus operated by CyRide. CyRide Orion V 954.jpg
A 2000 Orion V (05.501) 40 foot bus operated by CyRide.

The two-piece windshield of the Orion V has the driver's windshield canted towards the back of the bus to reduce reflections. The bus was available in both transit (two-door) and suburban (single front door) configurations. [2]

The Orion V uses a welded monocoque steel tube frame clad with steel and fiberglass panels, and an aluminum roof. [3] : 8   [4] : 7   [5] : 6  The interior floor height is 35.75 inches (908 mm) except for the vestibule portion starting at the rear wheels, which is slightly lower at 34.5 inches (880 mm). The first step height is 14.5 inches (370 mm) for the front (11 inches (280 mm) when knelt) and 15.75 inches (400 mm) for the rear. [2] All buses, regardless of fuel type, use longitudinally mounted engines with a T-drive transmission coupling driving the rear axle.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) buses carry their fuel on the roof in eight tanks, with a collective volume of 10,440 cu ft (296 m3) at a pressure of 3,000 psi (21,000 kPa), measured at 70 °F (21 °C). [3] : 9  Diesel buses were offered with 96, 125, or 150 US gal (360, 470, or 570 L) fuel tanks. [1]

Ontario (later Orion) Bus Industries (OBI) marketed the Orion V to both the Canadian and United States transit markets. Canadian buses were assembled at the OBI plant in Mississauga, Ontario. For the US market, to meet 'Buy America' requirements for federally subsidized transit vehicles, the Orion V was assembled by wholly owned subsidiary Bus Industries of America (BIA) in Oriskany, New York.

Models

Internally, OBI designated the bus model as 05.50x, with x designating the model number. [3] : 7  [4] : 7 

Model numberLengthWidthYears availableFuel typeSuburban or Transit
05.50140 ft 8.5 in
12.41 m		102 in
2.59 m		1989-2009Diesel and CNGBoth
05.50296 in
2.44 m		Transit
05.50335 ft 7.5 in
10.86 m
05.504102 in
2.59 m
05.50532 ft 5 in
9.88 m		96 in
2.44 m
05.506102 in
2.59 m

[6]

Hybrid prototypes

A series hybrid bus was developed by the New York State Consortium using an Orion V 40' chassis equipped with powertrain components supplied by General Electric. This hybrid bus prototype used tandem rear axles driven by four traction motors, one for each wheel. Electric traction power was generated by a Cummins B5.9 diesel engine rated at 190 hp (140 kW) driving a 100 kW (130 hp) alternator, and energy from regenerative braking was stored in nickel-cadmium batteries. [7]

Deployment

The Orion V was OBI's most popular transit bus. [8] The first production bus was sold to Mississauga Transit. [9] Major transit agency users included New York City (MTA), Toronto (TTC), and Washington, D.C. (WMATA). For MTA, some buses in the final order from 1999 [10] were unreliable and plagued with significant structural corrosion. [11] Coast Mountain Bus Company in Vancouver operates the Orion V Suburban models built in 2008, the last buses built for a Canadian agency. The last Orion V models were built for Sonoma County Transit in 2008.

TTC retired its Orion V fleet in December 2015; the retirement event featured a final 40-minute ride on No. 9411. [12]

As of 2024, a handful of Orion V models remain in operation such as Beaver Bus Lines of Brandon, Manitoba, which currently operates a number of former GO Transit buses built from 2000 to 2004 and Coast Mountain Bus Company in Vancouver that also runs the suburban Orion V models built in 2008, as the last Orion V buses manufactured for a Canadian transit system. Bee-Line Bus System and Sonoma County Transit operates the last Orion V buses in diesel and CNG configurations.

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">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">Rapid Transit Series</span> American transit bus type

The Rapid Transit Series (RTS) city bus is a long-running series of transit buses that was originally manufactured by GMC Truck and Coach Division during 1977, in Pontiac, Michigan. First produced in 1977, the RTS was GMC's offering of an Advanced Design Bus design and is the descendant of GMC's prototype for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transbus project. The RTS is notable for its then-futuristic styling featuring automobile-like curved body and window panels; the Advanced Design Buses were meant to be an interim solution between the high-floor transit buses that preceded them, such as the GMC New Look, and modern low-floor buses that would facilitate passenger boarding and accessibility. Most current buses are now made by specialized coach manufacturers with flat sides and windows.

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

The Orion I was a line of rigid high-floor transit buses made in 30-, 35-, and 40-foot lengths by Ontario Bus & Truck between 1976 and 1993 for the Canadian and United States mass transportation markets. The Orion I was the first bus offered by OBI and was available in transit (2-door) and coach/suburban (1-door) models. It was replaced by the rigid Orion V and low-floor Orion VI.

<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">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">Gillig Low Floor</span> American transit bus type

The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by Gillig since 1997. The second low-floor bus design introduced in the United States, the Low Floor originally served as a second product range for the company alongside the Gillig Phantom. As transit bus operators shifted toward low-floor designs, the Low Floor has replaced the Phantom entirely, becoming the sole vehicle platform offered by the company since 2008.

<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">MCI D-Series</span> American motorcoach bus type

The MCI D-Series is a model of motorcoach bus produced by Motor Coach Industries (MCI). The bus is primarily used by private companies operating scheduled service or commuter buses, government agencies for the transport of prisoners, and in more recent years, public transit agencies who use them on express routes. It is sold alongside the MCI J-Series bus, primarily used by tour and charter operators.

<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 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">Flyer 700/800/900 series</span> Canadian bus model series

The Flyer 700/800/900 series were a series of transit buses built in three generations by Western Flyer and its successors Flyer Industries and New Flyer, of Canada, between 1967 and 1987. Except for brief overlap during transition from one generation to the next, they were not in production concurrently. All individual model designations included a prefix of either D, for diesel propulsion, or E, for electrically powered trolleybuses, with the first digit indicating the generation and the last digit indicating a variant within the generation. The introductory model was the D700, originally released in 1967 for the Canadian transit market, and the last series group to be produced, D900, was discontinued in 1987. Flyer had become New Flyer only the year before, in 1986.

<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">NABI BRT</span> Motor vehicle

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.

<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 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Specifications Orion V High Floor". Daimler Commercial Buses North America. Archived from the original on March 31, 2005.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Orion V Brochure" (PDF). Orion Bus Industries. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2005.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 STURAA Test: 12 Year, 500,000 Mile Bus from OBI, Model 05.501 (PDF) (Report). Altoona, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Bus Testing and Research Center. March 1994. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 STURAA Test: 35' Heavy Duty Bus from Bus Industries of America, Orion V Model (PDF) (Report). Altoona, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Bus Testing and Research Center. August 1992. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Partial STURAA Test: ORION V 40' Heavy Duty Bus from Bus Industries of America (PDF) (Report). Altoona, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Bus Testing and Research Center. July 1990. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Orion Bus Industries 'Orion V' - CPTDB Wiki". cptdb.ca. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Transportation Research Board; ARCADIS Geraghty and Miller, Inc. "8: Hybrid-Electric Propulsion" (PDF). Guidebook for Evaluating, Selecting, and Implementing Fuel Choices for Transit Bus Operations (Report). National Academy of Sciences. pp. 50–51. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ Brophy, Jim (July 16, 2016). "Bus Stop Classics: Orion I Thru VII – Cross-Border Cruisers…". Bus Stop Classics. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  9. ↑ Bow, James; Lubinski, Robert; Cantos, Jelo Gutierrez (April 9, 2017). "The Orion V Bus". Transit Toronto. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Table 9: Bus Facilities and Equipment - Spring 2010" (PDF). Supplementary Information for § 1269(d), 2011–2015 (Report). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Table 9: Bus Facilities and Equipment - Spring 2010" (PDF). Transit & Bus committee Meeting, January 2015 (Report). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  12. ↑ Robinson, Michael (December 5, 2015). "Last Orion V bus goes out of service in style". The Star. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
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