New Flyer Industries D40LF

New Flyer D40LF
Years of manufacture	1991 to 2010
Length	40.8 feet
Width	102 inches
Height	111 inches
Weight	27,500 lbs
Seating capacity	39
Propulsion	Diesel

The New Flyer Industries D40LF (originally marketed as The User Friendly "TUF" bus) was the standard bus produced by New Flyer Industries. It was based off the B85 model built by Den Oudsten Bussen BV in Europe. In 1989, the D40LF was introduced as the first 40-foot low floor bus in North America. However, it was only starting in 1991 that New Flyer started selling their product. Built with a raised rear section, accessed by steps within the bus, the D40LF set the standard for future low floor design in North America. This revolutionary design allowed for the easy boarding of mobility aides such as wheelchairs and walkers.

After the 2009 model year, New Flyer discontinued the LF series of buses with the traditional style front and rear ends. In November 2009, New Flyer updated their website and removed the LF models from their lineup. The D40LF has been replaced by the D40LFR. Production for some existing orders of the D40LF continued to the end of 2010.

Aesthetic and design changes

The prototype D40LF, developed in 1988, resembled the Den Oudsten Bussen BV B85, but had the rounded edged passenger windows similar to what was used on production models. The bus used plug-type doors, square tail lights, and round headlights. Later D40LF demos had a squared off front fascia with corners cut at an angle. The destination sign area was canted downwards. It had rectangular headlights and square turn signals. There was also a grille between the headlights.

At the beginning of the 1990s, the look was slightly revised. The corners of the front were rounded off and the destination sign area was straight. The rear featured large, round tail lights. Since it's debut, the D40LF used a roof mounted HVAC, but by 1994 an option for a rear mounted HVAC was available. By the end of 1995 the edge of the destination sign area was made smooth. The area around the headlights originally protruded more, but this was also made smooth and protruded slightly. The turn signals were made rectangular.

• 

  Early styling to the end of 1995 model year.

• 

  Early rear design with window.

• 

  Later rear design with window.

• 

  Rear design without window or grille.

Specifications

Engine

• Cummins C8.3 8.3L (mid-1990s-1998)
• Cummins ISL EPA 2004 8.9L, 280 hp (2003-2007)
• Cummins ISL EPA 2007 8.9L, 280 hp (2007-2010)
• Cummins ISM EPA 2004 10.8L, 280 hp (2003-2007)
• Cummins ISM EPA 2007 10.8L, 280 hp (2007-2009)
• Cummins ISC 8.3L, 280 hp (1998-2002)
• Cummins ISC EPA 2004 8.3L, 280 hp (2002-2004)
• Detroit Diesel Series 40 (?-2005)
• Detroit Diesel Series 50 (1994-2005)
• Detroit Diesel 6V92TA (1989-1994)

Transmission

• Allison B400R5 (early 1990s-2010)
• Allison HTB-748 (discontinued in 1990s)
• Voith D864.3E (no longer offered after 2007)
• Voith D864.5 (2007-2010)
• ZF 4HP500 (1989-1994)
• ZF 4HP590 (1994-2002)
• ZF 6HP592C (2002-2007)
• ZF 6HP594C (2007-2010)

Floor

• ACQ Pressure Preserved Plywood subfloor
  • Altro Transfloor
  • Gerflor Tarabus

HVAC

• Thermo King T11 rear mounted
• Thermo King roof mounted
• Carrier roof mounted
• Sutrak roof mounted

Axles

• ArvinMeritor (no longer offered after 2007)
• MAN

Operators

Canada

• Barrie Transit - Barrie, ON
• Brampton Transit - Brampton, ON
• Brandon Transit - Brandon, MB
• Burlington Transit - Burlington, ON
• Calgary Transit - Calgary, AB
• Coast Mountain Bus Company - Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, BC
• Durham Region Transit - Durham Region, ON
• Edmonton Transit System - Edmonton, AB
• Fort McMurray Transit - Fort McMurray, AB
• Grand River Transit - Waterloo Region, ON
• Grande Prairie Transit - Grande Prairie, AB
• Hamilton Street Railway - Hamilton, ON
• Kings Transit - Kentville & Kings County, NS
• Kingston Transit - Kingston, ON
• Kitchener Transit - Kitchener, ON
• London Transit - London, ON
• Lethbridge LA Transit - Lethbridge, AB
• Medicine Hat Transit - Medicine Hat, AB
• Metro Transit - Halifax Regional Municipality, NS
• Mississauga Transit - Mississauga, ON
• North Bay Transit - North Bay, ON
• Oakville Transit - Oakville, ON
• Owen Sound Transit - Owen Sound, ON
• Rayside-Balfour Transit - Sudbury, ON
• Red Deer Transit - Red Deer, AB
• Regina Transit - Regina, SK
• Saskatoon Transit - Saskatoon, SK
• St. Albert Transit - St. Albert, AB
• St. Catharines Transit - St. Catharines, ON
• Strathcona County Transit - Sherwood Park, AB
• Sudbury Transit - Sudbury, ON
• Thunder Bay Transit - Thunder Bay, ON
• Transit Cape Breton - Cape Breton, NS
• Toronto Transit Commission - Toronto, ON
• West Vancouver Municipal Transit - West Vancouver, BC
• Winnipeg Transit - Winnipeg, MB
• York Region Transit - York Region, ON

United States

• Anaheim Resort Transit - Anaheim, CA
• Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) - Ann Arbor, MI
• Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) - Reading, PA
• Blacksburg Transit - Blacksburg, VA
• Boston Logan International Airport Shuttle Service - Boston, MA
• Broward County Transit - Fort Lauderdale & Broward County, FL
• Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) - Lansing, MI
• Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CENTRO) - Syracuse, Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga & Oneida counties, NY
• Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) - Columbus & Franklin County, OH
• Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District - Champaign, IL
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) - Chicago, IL
• Citizens Area Transit (CAT) - Las Vegas, NV
• Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART) - Norman, OK
• Cobb Community Transit - Marietta & Cobb County, GA
• Columbia Transit System (CTS) - Columbia, MO
• Community Transit - Lynnwood & Snohomish County, WA
• Connecticut Transit (CT Transit) - Stamford, Hartford & New Haven, CT
• Crystal Transport - Brighton, MA
• Davenport CitiBus - Davenport, IA
• Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) - Detroit, MI
• Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority (EMTA) - Erie, PA
• Grays Harbor Transit - Aberdeen, WA
• Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority - Dayton, OH
• Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) - Danbury, CT
• Keeshin Transportation - Chicago, IL
• King County Metro Transit - Seattle & King County, WA
• Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) - Allentown & Lehigh Valley, PA
• Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (Wheels) - Livermore & Amador Valley, CA
• Long Beach Transit - Long Beach, CA
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) - Los Angeles, CA
• Madison County Transit (MCT) - Alton/Granite City, IL
• Madison Metro - Madison, WI
• MBTA - Boston, MA
• Metro Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA) - Akron & Summit County, OH
• METRO Transit - Oklahoma City, OK
• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) - Houston & Harris County , TX
• Maryland Transit Administration - Baltimore, MD
• MTA Flint - Flint, MI
• MetroLINK - Rock Island, IL
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) - Atlanta, GA
• Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority - Dayton, OH
• Milwaukee County Transit System - Milwaukee, WI
• Minnesota Valley Transit Authority - Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount & Savage, MN
• North County Transit District (NCTD) - Oceanside & North San Diego County, CA
• Northwest Airlines - Minneapolis, MN
• Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) - Orange County, CA
• Oshkosh Transit System - Oshkosh, WI
• People Mover - Anchorage, AK
• Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority - Clearwater, FL
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - New York, NY
• River Valley Transit - Williamsport, PA
• Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) - Rochester, NY
• Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. - New York, NY
• St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission - St. Cloud, MN
• Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Santa Cruz Metro) - Santa Cruz, CA
• Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (Big Blue Bus) - Santa Monica, CA
• Santa Rosa CityBus - Santa Rosa, CA
• SEPTA - Philadelphia, PA
• Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) - Cincinnati, OH
• Spokane Transit Authority (STA) - Spokane, WA
• Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) - Ithaca & Tompkins County, NY
• TriMet - Portland, OR
• Valley Metro - Phoenix, AZ
• VIA Metropolitan Transit - San Antonio, TX
• Williamsport Bureau of Transportation - Williamsport, PA

Demonstrator and engineering units

Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses

Fleet number	Thumbnail	Year	VIN	Engine	Transmission	Notes
204		1989	2FYD2LG19KP013580	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	ZF 4HP500	In PANY&NJ livery Submitted for Altoona test in 1991 Submitted for Altoona test again in 1994 with modifications
		1991	14249			Sold to Northwest Airlines 9301.
		1991	14250			Sold to Northwest Airlines 9302.
843 (was 888)		1992	2FYD2LG12MU014347	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Voith D863.3E	Sold to St. Albert Transit 888 (renumbered to 843). Built to BC Transit (Victoria) specs
9401		1993	2FYD2LG14PU014926	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R	Sold to Strathcona County Transit 902.
		1994	2FYD2LL10RU015347	Detroit Diesel Series 50	ZF 4HP590	Submitted for Altoona test in 1995
		1995	15916			Sold to Crystal Transport 630.
		1996	16684	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R	Sold to Houston METRO 4000.
		1997	17252			Sold to Crystal Transport 632.

Preserved Coaches

Year	Thumbnail	VIN	Original Owner	Fleet Number	Current Owner
1995		15616	Long Beach Transit	9401	Long Beach Transit

References

• D40LF specifications (2009 archive), archive.org, retrieved on 2011-03-25
• Personal notes & sightings