Toronto Transit Commission Nova LFS

The Toronto Transit Commission Nova Bus LFS are the current buses being delivered to the Toronto Transit Commission. These buses have a semi low-floor configuration (low-floor front and high-floor back).

TTC Nova Bus LFS
Top: 2013 Nova Bus LFS Artic 9000 on 29 Dufferin Bottom: 2017 Nova Bus LFS 8941 on 12A Kingston Road
Body and chassis
Doors	2 doors (LFS & LFS HEV) 3 doors (LFSA)
Related	Toronto Transit Commission bus system
Powertrain
Engine	Detroit Diesel Series 40 (1998) Cummins ISL9 (2013–2016) Cummins L9 (2017–2018) Cummins B6.7 (2018–present)
Dimensions
Length	40ft (1998, 2015–present) 60ft (2013–2014)
Chronology
Predecessor	Orion VII

Roster

2013 to 2014

The first order from Nova Bus was 27 low-floor articulated clean diesel buses (9000–9026). A year later, another 126 articulated diesel buses (9027–9152) was ordered.

The first batch of buses was delivered to Wilson by 27 units (9000–9026) followed by the second batch were split between Wilson by 18 units (9027–9044), Malvern by 59 units (9045–9103), Arrow Road by 31 units (9104–9134) and Mount Dennis by 18 units (9135–9152). In June 2014, 10 units (9045–9054) were transferred from Malvern to Wilson in exchange for some Orion VII NG hybrids to Malvern, which replaced the retiring Orion Vs. Between 2015 and 2018, various buses were shuffled between the garages. In October 2018, 37 units were transferred to Mount Dennis in exchange for some VII NG hybrids at Wilson as Mount Dennis took over operations of the 29 Dufferin. Wilson temporarily lost all of its remaining artics to Mount Dennis and Malvern in 2019 due to rebuild which led to the 7 Bathurst route using 40 foot buses. In June 2020, 5 units (9100–9104) were moved to Arrow Road from Mount Dennis.

The first batch (9000–9026) received the CAD/AVL VISION system from August 2018 to October 2018 while the second batch (9027–9152) received it from July 2018 to April 2019.

Arrow Road has 36 units, Malvern with 59 units, and Mount Dennis carrying 57 units.

In May 2019, unit 9003 retired prematurely due to suffering damage that it sustained after crashing into a hydro pole in November 2018. The bus was deemed beyond repair and was written off.

2015 to 2016

Originally, the TTC needed 55 more buses to meet growing demand and for the Scarborough RT replacement buses. But since the city voted for the Scarborough Subway, they did not need the buses. However, the Nova Bus RTS buses were in poor condition and needed to be replaced which led the contract to continue. An additional 50 buses was added to the contract. Therefore, 105 diesel buses (8400–8504) was ordered followed by another order of 108 diesel buses (8510–8617) a year later.

The first and second batch (8400–8504 and 8510-8617) were delivered at Arrow Road between 2015 and 2016. In 2016, many buses were moved to Queensway to replace the retiring D40LFs only for some buses to move back to Arrow. Eventually, Arrow Road gave up its units to Birchmount to replace the Orion VIIs with the exception of unit 8406 which went to Queensway. Since then, many buses in this series have shuffled around between Birchmount and Queensway garages.

Unit 8406 was one of the first test buses to be equipped with the CAD/AVL VISION system. The rest of first batch (8400–8504) received it from July 2018 to April 2019. The second batch (8510–8617) was equipped from January 2019 to April 2019.

Birchmount holds the majority with 139 units, while Queensway carrying 73 units.

In June 2017, unit 8573 retired prematurely due to suffering damage that it sustained in a major collision; the bus was deemed beyond repair and was written off.

2017 to 2018

The TTC needed 97 buses to meet growing demand plus 285 more buses to replace the 2002–2005 Orion VII buses. The order was split into two. The first order consisted of 97 diesel buses (8620–8716) that were delivered in mid 2017. The second order consisted of 285 diesel buses (8720–8964, 9200–9239). 245 buses (8720–8964) were delivered right after the first order until late 2017, and the remaining 40 buses (9200–9239) were built and delivered in early 2018.

These buses were the first to be delivered with the LFLRV inspired livery.

The first batch (8620–8716) was delivered at Eglinton in 2017. Followed by 245 units from the second batch (8720–8964). 13 buses were temporarily moved to Queensway but has since returned. The other 40 units (9200–9239) were delivered to Eglinton for acceptance and commissioning before moving to Birchmount to enter revenue service. Units 8925-8964 were shuffled around between Birchmount and Eglinton from January 2018 to December 2019.

The first batch (8620–8716), received the CAD/AVL VISION system from March 2019 to April 2019. However, unit 8695 received it in June 2019 after it was involved in an accident in January 2019. The second batch (8720–8964) were equipped from February 2019 to April 2019. The third batch (9200–9239) received it from February 2019 to March 2019.

Eglinton holds the majority with 328 units, while Birchmount having 54 units.

2018 to 2019

Originally, 271 diesel buses and 54 hybrid electric buses were ordered for a total of 325 buses for 2018. However, the contract was tweaked a bit with Nova Bus building 270 diesel buses (3100–3369) and 55 hybrid electric-powered buses (3400–3454). For 2019, 200 more hybrid-electric powered buses were expected to be delivered. It was split with 115 buses (3455–3569) to be delivered in early 2019, and the remaining 85 buses (3570–3654) to be delivered in late 2019.

These buses were the first to be delivered with the CAD/AVL VISION system. From this point onwards, future buses will be delivered with the new system. The third batch of hybrids (3570–3654) were delivered with a new bike rack and the manufacturer logo was moved at the center, under the fleet number.

All 270 diesel buses were delivered to Arrow Rd. 30 of the buses were transferred to Birchmount and Eglinton for VISION training between March and April. 75 buses from the series (3100–3174) were moved to Birchmount from Arrow Rd until the end of 2019.

Arrow Road has the majority of diesel buses with 195 units, while Birchmount possesses 75 units.

The first batch of hybrid-electric buses (3400–3454) was delivered to Arrow Garage from October 2018 to December 2018 for acceptance and commissioning. Then soon moved to Malvern before they enter service. The second batch (3455–3569) was also delivered to Arrow Road for acceptance and commissioning. 70 units moved to Malvern to enter service while the rest of the 45 units stayed and entered service at Arrow Road. From November 2019 to February 2020, the 45 units from Arrow Rd moved to Malvern. The third batch (3570–3654) was delivered to Arrow Road from July 2019 to January 2020.

Malvern has the majority of hybrid-electric buses with 170 units, while Arrow Road currently has 85 units.

On February 28, 2019, all hybrid-electric buses were sidelined due to a recall. The recall was a steering defect. Many buses were moved from Malvern to Birchmount, Eglinton, and Wilson for extra storage. 12 days later, some buses began to return to service with unit 3420 being the first to do so.

Storage

Summary
Allocation statistics as of June 19th, 2020. Years depicted rows will show year when buses were built/delivered.

Garage / Division	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	Total
Arrow Road		36 (9100–9135)				195 (3175–3369)	85 (3570–3654)	316
Birchmount			50 (8400–8409, 8465–8504)	89 (8510–8572, 8574–8599)	14 (8951–8964)	115 (3100–3174, 9200–9239)		268
Eglinton (Comstock)					328 (8620–8716, 8720–8950)			328
Malvern	16 (9000–9002, 9004–9016)	43 (9057–9099)				55 (3400–3454)	115 (3455–3569)	229
Mount Dennis	10 (9017–9026)	47 (9027–9056, 9136–9152)						57
Queensway			55 (8410–8464)	18 (8600–8617)				73
Wilson								0
TOTAL	26	126	105	107	342	365	200	1271