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NJ Transit to add 84 MCI natural gas buses

Meanwhile, the company announced its Service Centers will deploy three mobile maintenance units in the New York and New Jersey area, Orlando, Fla. and Los Angeles.

December 16, 2013
NJ Transit to add 84 MCI natural gas buses

 

2 min to read


New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) awarded a contract to Motor Coach Industries (MCI) for 84 compressed natural gas-fueled (CNG) MCI Commuter Coaches with wheelchair lifts. The new CNG coaches will replace coaches that have each logged more than a half a million miles. Delivery will begin in late 2014.

The first U.S. agency to purchase CNG MCI Commuter Coaches, NJ Transit took delivery of 50 of the CNG coaches in 1999 as part of a pilot program, ordering an additional 27 CNG units the following year.

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Over the last three decades, MCI has supplied more than 2,350 Commuter Coaches to NJ Transit, which was one of the first agencies to the use the coach to extend its reach into outlying city and suburban areas to better serve the state’s commuter population.

ADA and Buy America compliant, the MCI Commuter Coach is available in clean-diesel, hybrid or CNG configurations. Durably built with a rugged semi-monocoque structure, the MCI Commuter Coach elevates passengers and drivers above traffic for safety and comfort at highway speeds. The MCI CNG Commuter Coach offers exceptionally low carbon dioxide emissions and lower fuel costs, while supporting domestic energy production.

Meanwhile, to make motorcoach maintenance more convenient, MCI Service Centers will deploy three mobile maintenance units in New York and New Jersey area, Orlando, Fla. and Los Angeles.

Top-level technicians will man the units, which will carry diagnostic tools, repair essentials and critical parts required for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of all motorcoach makes and models. The units will travel to serve customers from the nearest MCI Service Center Monday through Friday and will be on call 24 hours a day.

Services will span roadside diagnostics, brakes, air leaks and lights to belts, hose replacements and more. Technicians will be able to create records and issue paperwork on site. A pre-programed GPS system with operator locations and contact information will let technicians provide estimated times of arrival and continued communication.

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