Rabbit Express to Baltimore

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Well. The Rabbit Express to Baltimore started today. I havent rode it yet. I will one day ride it eventually to see if I should consider the Rabbit Express to get to work during the week. I did spot 405 on the 83S this morning at Timonium Light Rail station. Which was the first used Motorcoach Rabbit Transit purchased for the Express. And I do know they have 406 which is a MCI J4500. And 407 which is a DL3. I do believe they have at least 2-3 DL3s on the property. So either they purchased additional used motorcoaches or they went back to using the Glaval Cutaways and maybe 404 on the 83N and the coach buses on the 83S. Since I do believe the 83S will have more ridership then the 83N since Baltimore is a bigger city then Harrisburg. I may at some point consider taking the 83S to work Monday-Thursday to reduce putting the extra miles on my car. I may even consider taking it Presidents Day when I come to Baltimore.

[Perry]

Could you see any passengers on board?

[AdamFlx3204]

Article on the New Service:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/traffi ... 3471.story

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

The time I spotted the bus it was on a 5 minute layover but I didnt see anyone on at the time. I am hoping the ridership picks up on the 83S which probably will happen this summer since chances are gas prices may be $3 a gallon this summer from what it looks like.

[JohnR]

Where is the Rabbit storage facility located? I'll be in York on Wednesday and would like to see it.

John

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Rabbit Transits storage facility is located on Roosevelt Ave 1 block south of US route 30. Which is actually west of I83. Most of it you cannot see from driving by. You may be lucky enough to be able to peek into the north enterance to the base and see some buses inside.

[JohnR]

Will, your directions were spot on. I surprised at how many suburban coaches they have.

John

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Right now the Rabbit Express fleet consists of 9 coaches. 3 Glaval Cutaways. 1 Gillig Phantom which doesnt have cushioned seats. As well as 1 MCI EL3. 1 MCI J4500. And 3 MCI DL3s. All MCIs were purchased used.

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

It looks like another addition was added to the Rabbit Express which I noticed on the first trip this morning. The trip that should have 405. I didnt get the exact number to this unit but Im guessing its 410. This coach looks to possibly be a new coach. I didnt pay attention to the headlights. But I saw the orange over windshield front headsign and it looked like it said 83 CONTACT on it. So I thought one of the current DL3s was modified but I saw the frameless windows and the restyled rear end. So it looks like a D4500 Commuter coach model. Maybe the D4500CT. So its possible Rabbit Transit finally had the funding for a new coach for the Rabbit Express rather then purchasing used coaches all the time.

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Got news back from Rabbit Transit. The latest coach is 2 and a half years old. So its actually a 2007 MCI model.

[Greg]

They have certainly stepped thier game up.. This week while woking the 9, I saw a new Gillig BRT 40 footer laying over at Timonium. It has suburban seats, couldnt tell if it had a rear door, but it looked nice. Completely blacked out, no decals or anything. Gives the impression of a Limo Bus!

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Rumor was out that Rabbit Transit bought 9 ex FREX 2005 Gillig BRTs. So those BRTs are actually 5 years old. I didnt think they were in service already. I didnt even think they were on the Rabbit Transit property.