See the TTC’s first new bendy bus make its maiden voyage on Bathurst Street
See the TTC’s first new bendy bus make its maiden voyage on Bathurst Street
By Steve Kupferman | December 20, 2013
By Steve Kupferman | 12/20/2013
The TTC bendy bus: you are so articulated (Image: Christopher Drost)
Bus travel in Toronto entered a more flexible era at Bathurst Station this morning, when the TTC celebrated the maiden voyage of its first new articulated bus. The 60-foot-long Nova “Artic” vehicle is the first of 153 that will begin serving some of Toronto’s busiest routes by the end of 2014.
The Bathurst 7 route will be the first one to get a complement of the new bendy buses. TTC communications director Brad Ross says the street is expected to have a full line-up of Artics by the end of January. This first bus is the only one in active service for now.
The TTC hopes to pack each of these new buses with about 77 people during peak travel periods, which is about 45 per cent more riders than regular buses are equipped to handle. The increased capacity comes with a trade-off, of course: the TTC plans to run these buses less frequently than regular buses, so commuters can expect longer wait times. Other routes that will see Artics include 29 Dufferin, 6 Bay, 36 Finch West and 63 Ossington.
Here are some photos from the scene at this morning’s launch.
See all 12 photos »
252209 A side of view the new articulated bus, as it awaits passengers at Bathurst Station. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-1.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387535203,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"70","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.0025"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-1/ ttc-articulated-bus-1 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252210 Inside, there was a distinct "new bus smell." (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-2.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":3.5,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387535389,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-2/ ttc-articulated-bus-2 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252211 The accordion thing seen here is what gives the bus its bend. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-3.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":3.5,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387535446,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-3/ ttc-articulated-bus-3 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252212 The seats are a little different than the ones we're accustomed to. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-5.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":3.5,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387535543,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.008"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-5/ ttc-articulated-bus-5 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252213 Chris Upfold, the TTC's chief customer service officer, was there to send the bus on its way. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-6.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387535608,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"85","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.005"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-6/ ttc-articulated-bus-6 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252221 Upfold is a smiley guy. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-4.jpg 902 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387535530,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"200","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-4/ ttc-articulated-bus-4 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252214 An outside view of the accordion. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-7.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":3.5,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387535630,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.0025"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-7/ ttc-articulated-bus-7 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252215 A side-by-side comparison. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-8.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387535868,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"70","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.002"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-8/ ttc-articulated-bus-8 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252216 The bus takes on its first load of passengers. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-9.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387535990,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"73","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-9/ ttc-articulated-bus-9 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252217 The articulated buses are a little over 60 feet long, which is about 50 per cent longer than a standard TTC bus. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-10.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":3.5,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387536018,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.000625"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-10/ ttc-articulated-bus-10 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252218 And here's what it looks like with people on it. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-11.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":4,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1387536074,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"70","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-11/ ttc-articulated-bus-11 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)
252219 And away it goes. (Image: Christopher Drost) The TTC’s new articulated bus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ttc-articulated-bus-12.jpg 1000 667 {"aperture":7.1,"credit":"Christopher Drost","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1387536658,"copyright":"2013 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"25","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.003125"} https://torontolife.com/city/ttcs-first-new-bendy-bus-makes-maiden-voyage-bathurst-street/slide/ttc-articulated-bus-12/ ttc-articulated-bus-12 0 0
(Image: Christopher Drost)