Missing the bus

14 older workhorse articulated buses retired as part of metro's transit expansion plan.

by Tim Bousquet

It was a big deal when 14 Nova Bus articulated buses---the "double" buses, with a hinge in the middle---showed up on the streets of Halifax in 1993. "We weren't sure they'd be able to handle the hills," says Metro Transit's Lori Patterson. "But they've really proven themselves. And the kids especially liked them; they called them the 'bendies.'"

Those 14 buses have been workhorses. With seating for 69 and standing room for another 35, they reduced double-heading, improved rush-hour service and cut labour costs. It's anyone's guess how many passengers they've ferried over the years---hundreds of thousands each, certainly, possibly into the millions.

But now they're being retired, victims to poor fuel mileage and emissions and increased maintenance costs. The first two---the venerable #708 and #710---were taken out of commission last week, their fare boxes yanked, their engines cannibalized for parts and their carcasses unceremoniously discarded to the rear of the bus barn lot in Burnside, in limbo until they're towed to Surplus Land for scrap. The pair are being replaced by two New Flyer hybrid articulated buses, financed by the province.

The other 12 will soon follow. Thanks to a relatively aggressive transit expansion plan approved by Halifax council, 45 new Nova Bus articulated buses will arrive over the next three years---15 each year. The new buses, which cost about $700,000 each, will be placed on the busiest routes, notably the #1, with the smaller buses now on those routes used to increase service on other routes.

This is a good news story, but perhaps we should pause to consider the humanity carried by the buses passing into history: the overheard conversations, the thousands of books read, the relationships formed, the relationships lost, the fights with drivers, the...OK, maybe not.

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Metro Transit should donate one of the artics and a GM new-look to the Museum of Industry in Stellarton. They would go well with their collection of rail and motor vehicle transportation.

Posted by voice_of_reason on May 3, 2010 at 6:25 PM | Report this comment

Fuck that they are going to raise bus fares and and not to mention the tickets and passes anyway, probably the schedule aswell so thopse who need to get to work or school in the morning or night. They really dont care about you they only care about them selves

Posted by Mr.Average on April 24, 2010 at 11:39 AM | Report this comment

Why can't they make more busses with cushy seats? Seattle has modern busses with cushy seats that are durable and easy to clean.

It is sad that we will no longer see any fishbowls working the streets of Halifax. How could this happen with such little fanfare, like we had for the last streetcar in Halifax? This is an outrage if you ask me! I thought for sure they would be operating a lot longer considering at least one of them just got the sexy new Metro Transit paint job.

Posted by qpmzwonxeibcruv on February 8, 2010 at 11:15 AM | Report this comment

Brilliant that they get rid of them before the new ones come in to take their place, I especially love trying to get the 10 or the 1 on the weekend and getting to experience first hand what it's like to be a canned sardine. (And driver guy I'm not blaming the drivers, you guys rock, pay you more I say for all the crap you put up with, it's the idiots in management who probably don't even ride the bus who are at fault)

Posted by hishighness on February 7, 2010 at 10:57 AM | Report this comment

Your federal and provincial taxes at work.
Save one for a museum or stick it down at Pier 21 near the old railway carriages.

Posted by Joeblow on February 5, 2010 at 2:32 PM | Report this comment