New Jersey Transit 16001-16003, 17001-17240, 18001-18129, 19001-19184, 20001-

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New Jersey Transit 16001-16003, 17001-17240, 18001-18129, 19001-19182, 20001-20183, 21001-21367, 22001-22118 are 2016-2022 MCI D4500CT buses.

Engine Transmission Seating Destination sign
16001-16003, 17001-17184, 17186-17240, 18001-18129, 19001-19103, 19105-19118, 19128-19182:
Cummins ISX-12,11.9L, 410 HP - VIN code "B"

17185, 19104, 19119-19127, 20001-20183, 21001-21367, 22001-22118: Cummins X12, 11.9L, 410 HP - VIN code "N" (17185 shows a B in the engine code) (Engine VIN code soon to change to 9)

Allison B500 57, or 55 with lavatories
Vinyl covered seats matching NJT rail cars
Luminator Horizon

History

Order

The buses feature a new five-digit numbering scheme, with the first two digits indicating the model year of the bus.

Most of these buses through the 2019 model year featured Cummins ISX-12 engines, displacing 11.9L and rated at 410 HP and Allison B500 transmissions. The buses were the first in the NJ Transit fleet to be equipped with Wi-Fi, and will feature three-point seat belts for all passengers. The buses were originally specified with Daimler DD13 engines, but MCI subsequently withdrew that engine from the D series commuter coaches (and is soon going to be discontinued by Daimler).

Motor Coach Industries was the most qualified bidder of the three companies that submitted proposals; Prevost Car and ABC Bus (Van Hool) were the other two.

The base order for 772 buses was approved on July 15, 2015[1], at a total cost of $410,763,734.94, which includes four percent for contingencies. The breakdown of the base order is:

Sixty of the buses will be lavatory equipped and seat only 55. Delivery of these buses began with unit 18097 in March 2018, with the buses being used on the 319 route into New York City. 23 lavatory buses were delivered in 2018 and an additional 37 for Trans-Bridge Lines and Academy in 2019.

During the life of the contract NJ Transit can purchase up to 75 additional buses per year above and beyond the contract at a cost of $500,739.89 each. Using these options, an additional 332 D4500CT buses for private carriers were approved on February 10, 2016. At this time, the engine spec was changed to the Cummins ISX-12. The additional buses will cost $172,895,468.91, again including a 4% contingency.[2] This creates a new total of 1104 buses in the order and an average of about 183 buses per year.

2016 Deliveries

The first three coaches of this order, which are 2016 models, are demo buses for this order. One of these buses (16002), originally assigned to Academy Bus Lines, was relegated to a training bus at CMF.

2017 Deliveries

Only a few buses were delivered when in July 2016, New Jersey governor Chris Christie halted production of the buses due to a lack of replenishment of the Transportation Trust Fund. In October 2016, with a new gas tax in place, Gov. Christie ordered the production of the buses resumed, with private carriers getting the first production buses, including Coach USA, Saddle River Tours, DeCamp Bus Lines and Academy Bus Lines. Delivery was completed on the first flight of 184 private carrier buses at the end of the first quarter of 2017.

Deliveries resumed with the first production bus actually assigned to NJT, 17185 (the first bus to sport the updated EPA 2017 Cummins X12 engine), as well as the next wave of private carrier buses for Lakeland Bus Lines, in July 2017, which concluded the run of 2017 model year buses.

2018 Deliveries

The first of the 2018 models are in NJ Transit paint with Washington Township Bus Garage getting the first batch. Those buses began running in revenue on November 25, 2017. Except for two buses for Saddle River Tours, all of the 18000 series buses were assigned to NJ Transit, concluding the Year Two phase of production at bus 18129 in June 2018.

2019 Deliveries

Year Three production began with the first 2019 model buses going to Coach USA/Rockland Coaches in October 2018. A short flight of seven restroom buses went to Trans-Bridge Lines, followed by 30 more buses for Academy, then the first 2019 buses in NJT paint went to Wayne Garage. All 182 buses for 2019 were delivered by the end of April. During this year, a handful of buses were built with the X12 engine and each eligible garage received two of those buses for training.

2020 Deliveries

The 2020 buses began production in late 2019, with 183 buses on the schedule for Year Four of the contract. Delivery began in January 2020 but in March, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a stoppage of production and delivery of the buses. The plant in Pembina reopened in May 2020 and all of the remaining buses were completed by that August. All of the 2020 buses were built with the Cummins X12 engine. The first 119 went to NJ Transit and the remainder to Academy and Coach USA.

2021 Deliveries

The 2021 buses, which represent Year Five of the contract, began production in late 2020. The first 190 buses are divided among NJT's Ironbound, Howell and Meadowlands garages, retiring all 2001-2003 MCI cruisers at these garages. Following upgrades at Oradell garage to handle 45-foot buses, Oradell received 70 buses - 7 buses originally slated for Wayne garage, 30 buses diverted from Academy, and 33 option buses extending the contract. Private carriers (Coach USA and Academy) also received buses in 2021.

2022 Deliveries

The 2022 buses, which represent Year Six of the contract, began production in January 2022. Originally, 88 of these buses were slated for NJT's Oradell and Fairview garages, with the remainder for Academy. However, the 30 buses originally slated for Academy were diverted to NJT.

Details

See under individual articles for each year's bus allocation.

Analysis of purchased buses

2016-2022 Motor Coach Industries Cruiser Bus Purchase (NOTE: Figures reflect buses at time of delivery, not subsequent redeployment)
Contract Year Demos 1 2 3 4 5 6 CONTRACT

TOTAL

NJT 2 0 128 115 119 260 118 742
Private Carrier 1 184 57 67 64 107 0 480
TOTAL 3 184 185 182 183 367 118 1222
Lavatories 0 0 23 37 0 0 0 60

References

  1. [1] New Jersey Transit board minutes, July 15, 2015.
  2. [2] New Jersey Transit board minutes, February 10, 2016.