New Flyer E40LFR

In 2003, New Flyer Industries and Kiepe Electric won the bid for trolleybus replacements for the aging fleet of Flyer E901A/E902's. The bid was for 188 40ft. low floor trolleys and 40 60ft. articulated low floor trolleys with an option of 20 additional 40ft. low floor trolleys. All at a price of $272.9 million CDN with complete replacement of the entire fleet expected in 2006 and 2007. The first vehicle was a prototype based on the existing D40LF that featured updated styling to both the front and rear of the vehicle and alterations to accommodate the electrical equipment. This vehicle was numbered 2101 and delivered to Coast Mountain Bus Company in the early summer of 2005. The vehicle underwent testing both in passenger service and out of passenger service. This testing is expected to reflect any changes that need to be made in the production units. The remaining 187 units retain the same body styling and carry the model designation of E40LFR, while 2101 carries the designation E40LF. #2501, the prototype E60LFR arrived in Vancouver on the 29th of January 2007.

Special thanks to Ashton Wong for his kind donation for his photos of this vehicle (#2101), for more of his photos please click here.

By late 2006, the production units were arriving in Vancouver and mid 2007, the delivery of the E40LFR units is nearing completion. These buses feature a variety of passenger friendly improvements such as a low floor design, kneeling capability, 2 wheelchair positions and LED (Luiminator Horizon) destination signs. The electronic setup on these buses allow for quicker acceleration compared to the Flyer trolleys. Off-wire capability is provided by the EPU as well as an auto pole lowering system. The buses feature a seating layout for 29 passengers and a large open isle for standees and passenger flow.

#2101 was built in 2005, production units were built in 2006/2007. In early February/March of 2007, the new fleet of trolley buses had to be parked in order to design/implement a solution to a power steering problem that was occuring on the buses. This occured shortly after wheelchair restraint issues were discovered on newly delivered New Flyer C40LFR buses as well. Currently both fleets of buses are performing without any problems.


Please do not re-use any of these photos without my permission. Thank You
Click on the fleet number to see the picture

Thumbnail Fleet Number Description Photo Date (M/D/Y)
2101 2101 seen at the official unveiling ceremony that took place at Stanley Park 7/20/2005
2101-2 2101 seen at the official unveiling ceremony that took place at Stanley Park. 7/20/2005
2101 Rear 2101 seen at the official unveiling ceremony that took place at Stanley Park. 7/20/2005
2122 2122 seen at Granville and Broadway wokring Route 9 Bondary 6/01/2007
2130 2130 seen at Hastings and Richards wokring Route 10 Hastings 6/01/2007
2133 2133 seen at Hastings and Richards rounding the corner. 6/01/2007
2135 Rear 2135 seen on Broadway a few blocks east of Granville parked aside working Route 9. 6/01/2007
2155 2155 seen at Granville and Broadway wokring Route 16 29th Avenue Station. 6/01/2007
2157 2157 seen at Hastings and Richards wokring Route 5 Robson. 6/01/2007
2166 2166 seen eastbound on West Hastings at Richards working Route 19 Metrotown. 6/01/2007
2171 Rear 2171 seen westbound on Broadway at Granville. 6/01/2007
2173 2173 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings working Route 6 Daive. 6/01/2007
2174 2174 seen westbound on Granville near Broadway working Route 17 Oak. 6/01/2007
2178 2178 seen eastbound on Broadway at Granville working Route 9 Boundary. 6/01/2007
2180 2180 seen coming off the Granville Street bridge in vehicle testing or driver training. 6/01/2007
2183 2183 seen coming off the Granville Street bridge working Route 17 UBC. 6/01/2007
2183 Rear 2183 seen at Marpole Loop working Route 17. 6/01/2007
2183 Interior 2183's interior looking to the front. 6/01/2007
2190 Rear 2190 seen northbound on Granville at Broadway. 6/01/2007
2196 2196 seen on Richards working Route 5 Robson. 6/01/2007
2196 Rear 2196 seen on Richards working Route 5 Robson. 6/01/2007
2203 2203 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings working Route 6 Daive. 6/01/2007
2203 Rear 2203 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings working Route 6 Daive. 6/01/2007
2209 2209 seen eastbound on Broadway at Hemlock working Route 9 Broadway Station. 6/01/2007
2222 2222 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings working Route 5 Robson. 6/01/2007
2225 2225 seen at Broadway and Granville working Route 17 Downtown. 6/01/2007
2225-2 2225 seen at the south end of the Granville Street Bridge working Route 17 Oak. 6/01/2007
2231 2231 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings working Route 6 Davie. 6/01/2007
2232 2232 seen southbound on Richards at Hastings on driver training. 6/01/2007
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