Preferred Transit Vehicle

[FerryDude2012]

Alrighty, I know that some of us are transit enthusiasts, and some don't really take transit often, but I'm sure we've taken it at some point in our lives. We want to know these things:
1) What is your preferred/favourite transit vehicle? (Translink/BC Transit or other cities, specify)
2) Year and type (if you dont know, refer to: trans-continental.ca/ )
3) Why?
4) Is there anything you would change about the vehicle(s)?
5) First ride on the vehicle(s), and most recent ride on it (provide the # if possible)

I'll start it off:
1) New Flyers and Canada Line.

2) Specifically, 1999 New Flyer D40LFs from Translink and 1998 New Flyer D40LFs from BC Transit.

3) I love the sound these vehicle make, especially when they take off, and cruising down the highway.
As for the Canada Line, its quiet, efficient, spacious and reliable.

4) New Flyers: for the 1998 from BC Transit, changing the seating layout to 5 seats facing sideways on the back on each side (10 in total) for more space, even though it takes out a couple seats.
Canada Line: adding possible more seats, and making the luggage area slighty smaller, mostly because it's rarely used for "luggage" and taken up by standing passengers.

5) 1998 New Flyer: 9891 (Victoria) on the #70 Downtown via West Sidney (before the route was split up into 70,72 and 73)
Most recent: 9815 (Victoria) on the #15 UVIC/Downtown Express
1999 New Flyer: S7301 (Surrey) on the 322 Panorama Ridge (now known as C75)
Most recent: S7320 (Surrey) on the 388 Walnut Grove
Canada Line: First Day of Revenue Service from Richmond Brighouse - Waterfront Station, then back southbound to Bridgeport Station on cars #109 and #209
Most recent: 108 and 208 from Bridgeport to Vancouver City Centre.

[lmtengs]

Jan 16, 2011 19:16:27 GMT -8 FerryDude2012 said:

1) What is your preferred/favourite transit vehicle? (Translink/BC Transit or other cities, specify)

I chose the MkII Skytrain, the SeaBus, and WCE.

2) Year and type (if you dont know, refer to: trans-continental.ca/ )

For the MkIIs, the newest ones, with the little lights on-board the train cars that flash all the station numbers so I don't have to keep track
For the SeaBus, I'd say the BPB when it comes to seating and interior comfort, but the Original animals when it comes to ride experience, like the windows and stuff.
For the WCE trains, definitely the 2010 model train cars.

3) Why?

For the MkIIs, The paint scheme, coupled with the interior atmosphere really set them off from the others.
For the Seabus, I explained in the last question.
For the WCE, Mostly the comfort of the ride. The new cars are quieter, there's less vibration, the doors between the cars open automatically, and everything just feels newer.

4) Is there anything you would change about the vehicle(s)?

MkIIs: More seating, warmer lighting, more comfortable seats, slightly quieter ride, better heating/AC systems.
SeaBus: I would design an entirely new Seabus as follows: Wheelhouse of the BPB. Passenger deck structure: Beaver/Otter. Passenger deck interior furnishings and paint job: BPB. And, of course, the quieter ride of the BPB.
WCE: I'd relocate the electrical outlets to the topside of the tables, like on the older cars, and I'd make the seats a little bit more supportive for those 55 minute long-hauls between Port Haney and Waterfront (and back again).
Also, I'd make the lighting warmer and have a car with dimmer lights so those who want to sleep can do so peacefully. (They used to have a 'quiet car', but no more

5) First ride on the vehicle(s), and most recent ride on it (provide the # if possible)

First ride on the MkII was sometime within the first few months of it coming out. First ride ever on the Skytrain, I was 4, I think.

First ride on the SeaBus, I was a few weeks old. At the time I lived in North Vancouver.

First ride on the WCE, I was 4, I think.

[Mike C]

Classics will always be my favourite vehicle, hands down...! That's my childhood.

[Koastal Karl]

Seabus and Canada Line are the only transit that I dont mind riding.

[Quinsam]

I prefer the New Flyer buses by far over Novabus LFS. (Not been on an LFX yet)
Exterior wise, I loved the MCI Classics - they reminded me of a UK Class 321 for some reason. Also, you have to love the roar of a Detroit Diesel 6V92TA engine, and I love the screaming Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine too (Most New Flyer buses have these).
I'm not too fussed about the Double Deckers, Skytrain or Seabus. However, I despise the community shuttles.