NABI BRT
NABI 60-BRT / NABI 42-BRT | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | NABI |
Also called |
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Production |
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Body and chassis | |
Class | Transit bus |
Body style | Monocoque |
Layout | RR |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | |
Length | over bumpers: |
Width | 102 in (2.59 m)[1][2][3] |
Height | 133 in (3.38 m)[1][2][3] |
Curb weight | |
Chronology | |
Predecessor |
The NABI BRT was a line of low-floor transit buses available in 42' rigid (42-BRT) and 60' articulated (60-BRT) nominal lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 2004 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid.
The NABI BRT was styled to resemble a light-rail vehicle for service on bus rapid transit lines, joining the existing NABI LFW (for local bus service) and NABI CompoBus product lines (for lower-capacity rapid and express routes). After New Flyer acquired NABI in 2013, all NABI product lines were discontinued in 2015, once existing orders for NABI buses had been fulfilled.
Design[]
The NABI BRT line uses a model number designating the nominal length along with the BRT family designator. For example, a NABI 60-BRT is a 60' (nominal) articulated low floor transit bus. The BRT line was announced in 2003,[6] launched with a 60-foot nominal articulated bus in 2004,[7] and joined by a similarly styled 42-foot rigid bus in 2006.[8] A single 65-foot model (65-BRT) was built and sold to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA).[9] On the stamped vehicle identification plate, the vehicle type is identified as xxBRT.nn, where xx gives the nominal length (in feet) and nn is the sequentially-assigned order number,[10] starting from 01.[11]
The NABI 60-BRT was designed in response to a LACMTA request for proposal for the rolling stock on its forthcoming Orange (now G) Line, which specified a vehicle that was "sleek, streamlined, and aerodynamic", carried three extra-wide doors to facilitate boarding, and were less noisy (78 dBA) than typical transit buses. The initial as-bid price was US$633,000 (equivalent to $867,000 in 2020).[12]: 13 To meet regional air quality requirements, the buses were equipped with Cummins 320 L-Gas Plus CNG engines, with a fuel storage capacity of 27,088 cu ft (767.0 m3) in 12 storage tanks, providing a range of 400 miles (640 km). A pilot vehicle was delivered in fall 2004[13] for a two-month trial, and the first 28 60-BRTs (which MTA called 'Metro Liners') were delivered in June 2005.[12]: 14 The extended 65-BRT (nicknamed 'Longfellow') was introduced to service in September 2007 and required a special permit from CalTrans; to keep its weight similar to the 60-BRT, it only carries 8 CNG tanks.[12]: 15
The NABI BRT featured a double roof providing a space 18 inches (460 mm) tall, extending the length of the vehicle, which could be used to store HVAC equipment, natural gas tanks (for CNG-fueled vehicles), or batteries (for hybrid vehicles).[3] Like prior NABI buses, body shells were assembled in Hungary and shipped to the NABI plant in Anniston, Alabama for finishing[14][15]: 7–9 until body production was shifted to Anniston gradually starting in 2011; by late 2012, the transition was complete.[16]
Hybrid[]
The six Model 42-BRT buses delivered to LACMTA in 2008 used a unique gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.[17] The largest user of hybrid NABI BRT buses was WMATA, who placed an order in July 2013 for up to 654 buses (if all the procurement options were taken);[18] this was realized with 105 42-BRT diesel-electric hybrid buses delivered in 2014.
Deployment[]
The first NABI 60-BRT buses were delivered to LACMTA in October 2004;[7] LACMTA was also the first customer for the 42-BRT, delivered in 2008. The final NABI BRT buses to be built were completed in 2015: the 60-BRT for Transfort, serving Fort Collins, Colorado and the 42-BRT for Massport, serving Logan Airport in Boston.[19] The NABI factory in Anniston was then retooled to produce New Flyer Xcelsior low-floor buses for the United States transit market.[20]
Most of the BRT production was for the 60-BRT model. LACMTA was the largest customer, with almost 400 60-BRTs delivered.[11] The seat fabric for LACMTA's fleet of Metro 45C CompoBus and 60-BRT Metro Liners was designed by Beep'Inc., a collaboration of artist Pae White and architect .[21]
Competition[]
- Gillig Low Floor
- New Flyer Xcelsior
- Nova Bus LF Series
- Orion VII
References[]
- ^ a b c "BRT model information". nabiusa.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c "General Specifications: 60-BRT". North American Bus Industries, Inc. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e "BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)" (PDF). North American Bus Industries, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2011.
- ^ STURAA Test: 12 Year 500,000 Mile Bus from NABI, Model 42.5-BRT.01 (PDF) (Report). Bus Testing and Research Center, The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute. May 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ STURAA Test: 12 Year 500,000 Mile Bus from North American Bus Industries, Inc., Model 60 BRT (PDF) (Report). Bus Testing and Research Center, The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute. April 2005. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Los Angeles Board Votes to Award Contract to NABI for 60-Foot BRT Vehicles" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. February 27, 2003. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006.
- ^ a b "NABI and LA unveil new 60-BRT" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. October 8, 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006.
- ^ "NABI Debuts Stylized Bus Model 42-BRT at the APTA Conference" (Press release). North American Bus Industries, Inc. May 8, 2006. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006.
- ^ "Los Angeles Metro Rolls Out North America's First 65-foot Articulated Compressed Natural Gas Bus on Metro Orange Line" (Press release). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 27, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "2004 NABI 60B.01 OFFSITE, DISMANTLER ONLY, 9am from Riverside, Inspection Friday 1/17 9-1pm MTA 970". ProxiBid. January 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020.
- ^ a b Kristopans, Andre (October 27, 2014). "IKARUS / NABI Models and Order Numbers". Utah Rails. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c Flynn, Jennifer; Thole, Cheryl; Perk, Victoria; Samus, Joseph; Van Nostrand, Caleb (October 2011). Metro Orange Line BRT Project Evaluation (PDF) (Report). Federal Transit Administration. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "Metro Liner Debuts at Media Event" (PDF). MyMetro.Net. October 15, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "NABI - North American Bus Industries". Coachbuilt. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ Global Bus Innovation: NABI Annual Report and Accounts (PDF) (Report). North American Bus Industries, Inc. 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2020.
- ^ "NABI production now entirely in U.S." Metro Magazine. May 14, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ "Convert six (6) hybrid buses to super low emission (SLEB) transit buses" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "New Flyer to supply D.C. Metro with 654 NABI buses" (Press release). BusWorld. July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ Kristopans, Andre (March 14, 2017). "North American Bus Industries". Utah Rails. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ "New Flyer to Focus on Xcelsior® as Single Heavy-Duty and BRT Transit Bus Platform" (Press release). New Flyer of America. June 24, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ "Metro Bus Seat Fabric". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to NABI BRT. |
External links[]
- "North American Bus Industries 42-BRT". Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board wiki. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- "North American Bus Industries 60-BRT". Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board wiki. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- "General Specifications: 60-BRT Hybrid". North American Bus Industries, Inc. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006.
- Buses of the United States
- Vehicles introduced in 2004
- Articulated buses