Category Archives: Bus Technology

Do You Want To Buy A Bus?

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Steve

Back in 1959, General Motors introduced the GMC “New Look” model, and it was the mainstay of transit systems for years. Here’s what the advertising for it looked like in 1963.

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 45 Comments

TTC Capital Budget 2010-2019 (3): Bus Fleet Plan (Update 3)

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Steve

Updated October 28 at 12:45 pm:  A revised fleet plan appears on the Supplementary Agenda for the TTC meeting on October 29 as an appendix to a report regarding the purchase of new buses for 2011 and 2012 delivery.  This … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Finance, Service Cost and Quality, Transit | 33 Comments

Trolley Coaches for Toronto?

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Steve

One side effect of retirement is that I am finally dealing with years of accumulated files.  Yes, I admit it, I have more paper than I need (especially now that so much is available in electronic format), and some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 32 Comments

Praxis II Showcase 2009 at U of T

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Steve

When:  Wednesday, April 15 from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Where:  Bahen Centre Lobby, 40 St. George Street What:  First year engineering students spent half a term identifying and researching issues of usability, accessibility, and sustainability within the TTC system.  This led … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Bus Technology, Subways, Transit, Urban Affairs | 12 Comments

Trolley Buses? Not For Toronto (Update 2)

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Steve

The TTC commissioned a report from Dr. Richard Soberman on the economics of trolley bus operation in Toronto.   Cutting to the chase, the conclusion is that creating a new system from scratch is uneconomic, and we should wait for coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 53 Comments

Better Batteries for Hybrid Buses

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Steve

The TTC’s supplementary agenda for this week includes a report on the settlement of negotiations with Daimler for the problems with the hybrid bus fleet.  Parts of this report are confidential, but the main items of interest for system users … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 11 Comments

Diesels, Not Hybrids, At Least For Now (Updated)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Steve

Updated October 23:  The TTC amended the staff recommendations by adding two clauses, roughly as follows: The TTC should withhold award of the optional 120-bus add-on order for clean diesels with Daimler Buses until the problem with batteries on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 11 Comments

The Economics of Hybrid Buses

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Steve

The City of Toronto’s Executive Committee agenda for October X contains a report on the City’s Green Fleet Plan for various agencies.  By far the biggest of these is the TTC, and in an accompanying report, we learn just what the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Finance, Transit | 23 Comments

A Parting Word on Natural Gas

Posted on February 27, 2007 by Steve

Nearly two decades ago, we lost our trolleybus system in Toronto.  Talking about that fight needs a long post of its own, but in brief, a collection of forces brought about the end of that network:

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit | 11 Comments

The Myth of Fuel Cell Buses (2)

Posted on January 14, 2007 by Steve

Recently, I wrote about the proposal by one neighbourhood group at the waterfront to use hydrogen fuel-cell buses in place of LRT.  Many thanks to all who contributed feedback to that piece. This item contains a lot of technical bumpf … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Technology, Transit, Waterfront | 10 Comments