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York Region Transit

Last updated September 5th, 2002
YRT

All photos by Richard Oldfield, ©2002

The formation of York Region Transit brought together four very different transit systems on January 1st of 2001, with its merger of Markham Transit, Vaughan Transit, Richmond Hill Transit and Newmarket Transit (itself having previously absorbed the much-smaller Aurora Transit).

Note that York Region Transit can be a difficult property to photograph "in service." Outside of the Yonge-Finch Terminal (serviced by Markham and Vaughan), the Newmarket terminal (on Davis Drive near Yonge) and the Prommenade Mall (serviced by Richmond Hill and Vaughan), there are few good spots to catch more than a couple of routes together. Vaughan's main terminal is a small facility on a very busy Steeles near Islington and not easy to get good photos at, while Richmond Hill's Yonge-Bernard terminal is probably one of the poorer photo locations in the greater Toronto area. The local transit bus section is never in the sun at the right angle at any time, and getting buses exiting onto Yonge at the lights requires the luck of the lights. Add to that the fact that the older, odd-ball equipment is generally limited to school trippers and some rush hour services which can make them particularly hard to find. Hence, the best place to shoot Vaughan and Richmond Hill equipment can be at their respective yards. One consolation, though: the Vaughan yard at Can-Ar's Concord facility offers some interesting equipment in the backgound, from transit buses in for repair or scrapping to an assorted highway coaches.

York Region Transit has ordered 18 35-foot Thomas Darts for delivery during the summer of 2002, and these units will no doubt replace many—if not all—of the contractor-owned equipment (though one would expect the ex-Brampton new looks in the full new YRT lettering to have at least secured an immediate future). Therefore, the days of the odd-ball equipment in York Region properties are coming to an end, probably sooner than later, and with more new equipment on the horizon, so do get out and get those shots while you can. And take note: the RTS buses in Richmond Hill are the only ones of their kind anywhere in Ontario (not counting the newer TTC units), while the two Flyer D900s in Vaughan are probably the last ones of their make anywhere in Canada now that Calgary has pulled their last units off the road.

1198

Markham was the largest of the former independent systems, and the only one that does not rely on equipment provided by its contractor (in this case, Miller Paving). On the other hand, Richmond Hill Transit has utilizied equipment from their contractor Pacific Western Transportation, and currently has two PWT-owned RTS buses as back-up: 1198, seen here with YRT lettering, and 1505, still wearing "Airport Shuttle" lettering. Richmond Hill also has a new look leased from Eastway on the property, all white with YRT lettering and numbered 102. These units only see limited peak service.
YRT 1198

YRT 2003

YRT 2003

2003

I have to admit I like the new look model in the new York Region Transit paint scheme. These two shots show old number 2003. Both pictures taken January 26th, 2002, at the Miller Paving yard where Markham's buses are parked.

2005

Bus 2005 is one of only two of the seven Markham new looks currently wearing the new image.
January 26th, 2002
YRT 2005

Among the Vaughan fleet—in addition to all the new Thomas Darts, naturally—there is one Orion VI, one Orion V (the one shown here), two Orion Is (both forty footers), the two MCI MC-9s, and their sole Orion II in the new paint scheme. One of their three Solo Champions was spotted in all-white, and may be the next candidate for new colours. All other buses, including one of the ex-Oshawa Transit Flyer D900's (the other remains in service all white), carry the YRT initials on front and both sides. Two Flxibles remain on the property, but out of service. Number 910, the ex-TTC new look, appears to still be in service, still in the old Vaughan scheme, but carrying YRT initials. Ex-Brampton, ex-Newmarket 7533, now—somewhat surprisingly—also wears the new YRT scheme.

YRT 530

530

One of the ex-Vaughan Orion Vs at the Yonge-Finch terminal, refurbished and in new colours.

Vaughan has long used equipment provided by contractor Can-Ar, and this has included ex-Toronto Transit Commission and GO Transit Orion Is, Flxibles (as many as six in recent years, now all out of service), an RTS, and an assortment of new looks. Even now Vaughan has two ex-GO Transit MCI MC-9s, with new 96A-style fronts and rears and wearing the full YRT paint scheme. Other contractor-provided "new looks" in Vaughan include 910, an ex-Air Canada, ex-TTC T6H-5307N, and 912, the ex-St. John's bus owned by the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation and used for a short time last year. The latter has been returned to the CTHF and is now stored in Timmins.

911

Bus 911, ex-Brampton 7533, ex-Newmarket, now in the full YRT scheme.
YRT 911

YRT 914

914

Vaughan also has two Can-Ar-provided ex-Oshawa Transit Flyer D900s in the fleet at this time, 914 pictured with YRT lettering (ex-Oshawa 114) and 915 (ex-Oshawa 113), operating in all-white.

1303

A number of the former Vaughan Transit units have been given the full new YRT livery. This is one of two ex-GO Transit MCI MC-9s, acquired by Can-Ar and used by Vaughan on their York University express service. Given 96A-style fronts and rears after their acquistion, both now sport the full YRT livery while still carrying their old GO fleet numbers.
YRT 1303

YRT 103

103

Up in Newmarket, another leased Eastway new look, wearing YRT lettering and numbered 103, was spotted in their yard, and joins their own ex-Brampton new look, 7526, recently refurbished and in full YRT scheme, at this smallest division of the YRT. There is talk that two other Eastway-provided new looks will join them, possibly the units that had been in service with Grand River Transit during the 2001-2002 school year.

Still in the Newmarket yard and used for school specials are a handful of school buses, equipped with rear doors behind the rear wheel, and owned by contractor Laidlaw. Two were formerly used by Richmond Hill Transit and wear an orange paint scheme, while a couple of others sport Newmarket colours. To everyone's surprise, one was spotted in their yard in late May with YRT lettering! These two photos were taken over the fence of the Newmarket garage.

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