NJT NABIs on the road

[kcram3500]

There have been plenty of instances of the new 416s having teething problems in New jersey. Two comments about that...

1 - This is not the same 416 that Ikarus/NABI has been building for the last 15+ years. New front end, new window layout (which does alter the structure, reducing the number of vertical pillars to support the upper body), and NJT's request for the above-engine radiator system similar to MCI coaches - these all have essentially made this more of a new bus than, say, the Classic over the Fishbowl. The Classic straightened the curves and angles of the Fish, but did not alter the structure. There was also a gap of time from NABI's last 416 order until 5201 was built in 2008, which is likely why the frame supplier had issues. This is where the old saying came from about not buying an all-new or redesigned car in its first year.

2 - APTA has been trying to get transit agencies to reduce the customization of their buses to make them easier to build, which lowers the price and improves delivery time. Fishbowls (and Flx New looks too) had little if any body customization to them that the factory did not initiate. The only physical change made to the MCI MC-9 was the "Jersey cap" for the electronic destination sign. Otherwise these buses were generally built the same way for years on end. This made them consistent, durable, and very popular. From 1979 to 1985, MCI made just the MC-9... when you are able top pound out just one configuration, you get very good at it - that's why NJT's MC-9s lasted as long as they did. In contrast, NJT goes out of their way to request all kinds of small details. Just as 7501 (the original demo to the MCI order) has several detail changes from the production buses, 5202 has clear visual differences from 5201 - example: 5201 was delivered with wide black bodyside moldings and all the lower access doors had the black paddle handles. Not so on the production buses. Even the taillights were changed.

All "new" buses have had problems... the original Fishbowl in 1959-1960, the original RTS in 1977, the Flxible 870 problems are well-known... so NJT and NABI have to view this first delivery as such. By the time this order is really rolling, and a few hundred of these units have been built, the suppliers and NABI assembly people will have the experience to make this as good a bus as anything else on the road. The first 40 have had teething issues, but there are 1100 more to come. That last one will probably be built as well as the MC-9s were.

[The Port of Authority]

A somewhat-related question -- did NJT have problems with its Neoplan AN459s when they were first delivered? I suspect that they might have run into some issues given the fact that they were custom-built, but I just wanted to make sure.

[busdude2]

You said it just right. Some people are real quick to trash talk the nabi's. They will not accept them no matter what. Most are mad that the Millennium order fell through so they won't like the nabi's. Yes they have problems new buses do its normal. My drivers would love a new vehicle any brand instead of 8 year old ones we have now with 300,000 plus on them.

[SJP 7121]

I saw some things on the NABI last night that I really question NJT about.

For one, the mirror on the driver's side. People that are tall like myself (I'm about 6'2") wouldn't like it. Normally, us tall guys would have the seat all the way up for a more comfortable driving ride since it's more relaxing for the legs. The problem is that the big mirror, not the convex, is at least 30 - 40% covered by the partition on the driver's window with some black tape or something. I wish they take that off. Also, another thing that I found out is this: the suburbans have a issue that involves the Stop Request Button and the Reading Lights. Last night, one of my friends at Fairview showed me something that I was surprised about. If the operator placed the reading lights on TEST (Similar to the MCI's), all the reading lights will be on. The drawback, if someone wants to get off and uses the Stop Request tape or button, there's no notification on the dashboard & the bus won't say STOP REQUESTED. The bell will ring but it's very quiet. Now, if the reading lights was on the On position or Off position, then the Stop Request Button will work as normal. That is VERY weird and VERY strange. I do like the emergency button that is on the driver's area, but, if there is a person that is rather....large (I mean that with respect since I'm a obese person, thus I'm not dissing those that are, nor myself), they would have the careful to not hit that button. But the driver's area is nice. And, the parking brake.....why is it on the dash? Let's say someone parks the bus, then gets off the bus but accidentally nudges the button.......But those three things I really question...REALLY QUESTION.

[Majestic412]

I saw some things on the NABI last night that I really question NJT about.

For one, the mirror on the driver's side. People that are tall like myself (I'm about 6'2") wouldn't like it. Normally, us tall guys would have the seat all the way up for a more comfortable driving ride since it's more relaxing for the legs. The problem is that the big mirror, not the convex, is at least 30 - 40% covered by the partition on the driver's window with some black tape or something. I wish they take that off. Also, another thing that I found out is this: the suburbans have a issue that involves the Stop Request Button and the Reading Lights. Last night, one of my friends at Fairview showed me something that I was surprised about. If the operator placed the reading lights on TEST (Similar to the MCI's), all the reading lights will be on. The drawback, if someone wants to get off and uses the Stop Request tape or button, there's no notification on the dashboard & the bus won't say STOP REQUESTED. The bell will ring but it's very quiet. Now, if the reading lights was on the On position or Off position, then the Stop Request Button will work as normal. That is VERY weird and VERY strange. I do like the emergency button that is on the driver's area, but, if there is a person that is rather....large (I mean that with respect since I'm a obese person, thus I'm not dissing those that are, nor myself), they would have the careful to not hit that button. But the driver's area is nice. And, the parking brake.....why is it on the dash? Let's say someone parks the bus, then gets off the bus but accidentally nudges the button.......But those three things I really question...REALLY QUESTION.

I have to agree with you on the driver's side mirror. If you are tall and sit up, you can not see the entire mirror. Another problem with the driver's side mirror is that if you drive in the dark, like in the tunnel, PABT, or at night, you can not see from the mirror. There is a glare and you have to keep the window open to see clearly from the driver's side mirror!

[juan833red]

I just saw on the Wikipedia NJT Bus Page that when the last NABI Suburban is built, then they'll start building NABI Transits for NJT by early 2010.

[PNWTransitFreak]

I just saw on the Wikipedia NJT Bus Page that when the last NABI Suburban is built, then they'll start building NABI Transits for NJT by early 2010.

Wait...I thought the current 52xx-series ARE transit buses? Am I missing something here? I always thought a Suburban commuter coach has one front door, and a Transit coach has two (or more)....

[SJP 7121]

I just saw on the Wikipedia NJT Bus Page that when the last NABI Suburban is built, then they'll start building NABI Transits for NJT by early 2010.

Wait...I thought the current 52xx-series ARE transit buses? Am I missing something here? I always thought a Suburban commuter coach has one front door, and a Transit coach has two (or more)....

They are Suburbans. If you go inside, you see individual reading lights, individual air vent controls, and a stop request button similar to a MCI as well as a storage rack on top. The transits doesn't have neither one of those items ( At least the transits that we have in the past with the Flex's & Neoplans ). The Metro D that you see at some garages without the back door is suburbans, but there are some Metro's with back doors that are suburbans.

[Nabi40SFW0028]

NABI 5266 was spotted on I95 in Delaware. So either it arrived or its still in route.

[Pablo M 201]

NABI 5266 was spotted on I95 in Delaware. So either it arrived or its still in route.

If its going to North Jersey it might still be enroute.

But I think that bus is South Jersey bound because I don't think Greenville is going to get many NABIs until the transits come in, just a few suburbans for now.