Text by James Bow
- A History of the GM/MCI/Nova Buses
- The GM Old Look Buses
- The GMC New Look Fishbowls
- GM’s New Look Articulated Buses
- The GMC/MCI Classic
- The NovaBus LFS
- The NovaBus RTS
Following the retirement of the TTC’s Orion Ikarus articulated buses in January 2003, the TTC swore off articulated buses for the next decade. While the extra-long bendable buses did offer benefits, such as providing additional capacity at the same frequency and operating cost, the TTC was frustrated over how poorly the bendable buses fared on Toronto’s streets. Their maintenance requirements were substantially higher than conventional buses, and the TTC found that they could not hope to keep the articulated models on the road for the hoped-for 18 years.
However, as ridership increased, and the TTC found that many routes were becoming overcrowded, with frequencies so close they encouraged bunching, the commission looked at other agencies that continued to use articulated buses with some success. Finally, in 2012, the TTC placed an order for 27 articulated buses from Nova Bus Industries, to arrive late in 2013.
The LFS Artic model is the articulated version of Nova’s LFS bus (see above). The first prototype was built in 2004, using the front and back portions of older LFS models. The results were promising enough that a more refined prototype was built in 2005 and tests continued. In 2007, the first order for diesel-powered LFS Artic buses was received by the Société de transport de Montréal. Other transit agencies followed, including Halifax’s Metro Transit, Saskatoon Transit, and the WEGO Visitor Transportation System of Niagara Falls. In 2010, Connecticut Transit placed the first order for the hybrid version of the LFS Artic, the first of which arrived in 2011.
The TTC’s order of 27 vehicles was just the beginning. Early in 2013, the TTC expanded that order for another 126 units, to arrive in 2014. In May 2013, bus #9000 was photographed at Nova’s plant in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, generating excitement in the media.
Specifications for the NovaBus LFS Artic
- Numbers: 9000-9026 (2013 batch), 9027-9152 (2014 batch)
- Length: 62’
- Width: 102”
- Height: 124”
- Wheelbase: 244” and 253”, front to rear
- Turning radius: 44’8”
- Engine: Cummins ISL9 EPA 2010, 8.9L, 330 hp
- Transmission: Allison B500R, Voith D864.5, ZF 6AP1700B
- Electric system: Volvo Bus Electronic Architecture
- HVAC: MCC: standard (heat only), Carrier RF-353 with 05G compressor, Thermo King Athenia with X430 compressor, Thermo King LRT (2007-2010)
- Front Axle: ZF RL 85
- Centre Axle: ZF AVN 132
- Rear/drive Axle: ZF AV 132
- Brakes: All-wheel disc
- Front and rear tires: Michelin XZU2 305-70R22.5
- Centre tires: Continental HDU1 385-55RR22.5
- Fuel tank capacity: 142 US gal
- Seating: 62 passengers
- Standees: 60 passengers
Nova LFS Articulated Bus Image Archive
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A group of Nova LFS hybrids and articulated diesel buses parked in the storage area in the northern area of McNicoll Garage. This photo was taken by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos on August 13, 2020. |
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TTC NovaBus LFS Artic #9000 was rolled out in early May 2013 at Nova's plant in Saint-Eustache, Quebec for the media. This image is courtesy BusMedic/CPTDB Board. |
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On October 4, 2013, TTC Nova articulated bus #9000 was out on a multiple-division tour for training purposes. Photographer Greg Dell'Agnese was aboard and managed to get a shot of the interior just as it was pulling out of Queensway garage. |
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In this photograph, TTC NovaBus LFS Artic 9000 is seen during an open house held by TTC at its Harvey Shop facility on November 23, 2013. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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A rare view of two TTC "bending" vehicles in one photograph: Artic bus #9000 and ALRV streetcar #4239. Note Prevost bus in the background used as a mobile office by TTC during special events or road accidents. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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The front wheelchair ramp shown in action. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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Rear view of Atic bus #9000. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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Another shot on TTC NovaBus Artic interior. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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Unlike most of the vehicles in TTC fleet, the centre and rear doors on the Nova LFS Artic open inward towards the passengers instead of outward. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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Three seats flip up to provide an access for wheelchairs. Note "Push for stop request" button on the bottom of the seats. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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Bus driver compartment. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
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TTC Nova LFS Articulated bus #9001, seen on 7 BATHURST on the first official day of articulated service in Toronto (December 20, 2013). Photo by Mark David. |
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Mark David snapped this photograph of Novabus articulated #9004 at Bathurst Station, shortly before going out of service due to a faulty trump unit. The bus had just arrived and the teething pains were still being worked out. The photo taken on January 10, 2014 and is used here with permission. |
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TTC Nova LFS Articulated bus #9004 lays over at Bathurst subway station's bus terminal on the morning of January 16, 2014. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC Nova low-floor articulated bus #9006 pauses eastbound on Lawrence at Yonge while in service on 124 SUNNYBROOK on September 7, 2014. On this day, the YONGE SUBWAY was shut down from Lawrence to Bloor for track repairs, and the TTC was extending 124 SUNNYBROOK buses to Lawrence West station (operating westbound as 52G LAWRENCE WEST) in order free-up the bus bays at Lawrence station to handle the YONGE SHUTTLE buses. Articulated buses were called in to help deal with the situation. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TTC Nova low-floor articulated bus #9013 pauses at Finchdene Square at the end of the 334 EGLINTON EAST NIGHT route on December 17, 2015. Photo by Rob Hutchinson. |
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Nova Artic 9016 rests out-of-service at St. Clair West station. Photo by Eliot Rossi. |
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TTC Nova LFS Articulated bus #9020 seen crossing Bathurst Street passing Wilson Avenue operating on 7 BATHURST. Photographed by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos on March 5, 2014. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9023 paid an unexpected visit to routes 75 SHERBOURNE and 82 ROSEDALE on the evening of June 7, 2014, as it was called up to fill in for a bus that had broken down. Here, we see bus #9023 heading southbound on Sherbourne Street, about to turn at Front. The photographer was anonymous. |
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On June 7, 2014, TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9023 was called in to serve 82 ROSEDALE and 75 SHERBOURNE, to replace a scheduled bus that had broken down. This unusual assignment was captured by an anonymous photographer. Here, we see bus #9023 heading east on Summerhill, at Maclennan. |
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TTC Nova LFS Articulated bus #9023 picks up passengers in 82 ROSEDALE service on Summerhill, at Maclennan, on June 7, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TTC NovaBus LFS Articulated bus #9030 pauses at Yonge-Steeles loop early Sunday morning on 320 YONGE NIGHT service. This shot was taken in 2018 by Steven Sun. |
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Nova LFS articulated bus #9034 pulls into Don Mills station on a rare run on 169 HUNTINGWOOD on October 11, 2015. Photo by Flame Cube. |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9038 picks up passengers at Gunns Loop, during a temporary substitution of the 512 ST. CLAIR streetcar on July 12, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TTC Novabus Low Floor articulated bus #9038 operates through the Canadian National Exhibition beside the Enercare Centre (formerly the Direct Energy Centre) on the 29A DUFFERIN route. This March 2016 photograph was taken by Edward Brain. |
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TTC NovaBus LFS Articulated #9039 heads eastbound on Wilson, preparing to enter Wilson station in 929 DUFFERIN EXPRESS service. This photo was taken by Marcus Danchuk on November 18, 2018. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9040 turns onto Manitoba Drive in front of BMO Field in the morning of September 28, 2017, in service on the "Princes' Gates" branch of the 29 DUFFERIN route. This photo was taken by James Bow. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9045 waits to pick up passengers at the Bathurst subway station bus terminal on a stormy morning on June 10, 2015. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC Nova Low Floor articulated bus #9046 poses at Bathurst station, in service on the 7 BATHURST route on the morning of Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Photo by James Bow. |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9046 passes between Orion V buses #7098 and #9420 at Finch station on May 9, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9048 waits at the bus terminal at Spadina station to pick up passengers while temporarily substituting for the 510 SPADINA streetcar on July 21, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TTC NovaBUS LFS Artic bus #9049 in service on 310 BATHURST in the early morning hours of February 28, 2016. This photo was taken by Sammi De Guzman. |
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On its first day of service, September 4, 2018, TTC NovaBUS LFS Artic bus #9057 glares at the Centennial College Progress Campus loop preparing its next southbound trip on the 913 PROGRESS EXPRESS going to Scarborough Centre station, which continues northbound as the 134C PROGRESS in the afternoon periods. This photograph was taken by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos |
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During the cold chilly morning of November 18, 2014, Jelo Gutierrez Cantos snapped a rare photograph of TTC NovaBUS LFS Articulated #9057 in service on the 131E NUGGET EXPRESS about to turn left towards Brimley Road going to Scarborough Town Centre LRT line. As articulated buses became a rare sight since the introduction of the branch in 2000, it is not common to see this type of bus on the route dated back to the Orion III days. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9057 pulls into Finch station's bus terminal from Yonge Street, in service on the B branch of 53 STEELES EAST on May 12, 2015. Photo by Flame Cube. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9060 on Route 85 Sheppard East at Don Mills Station laying over then to head to Medowvale. Taken on March 16th, 2015, Taken by Lex Reid. |
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TTC Novabus LFS articulated bus #9060 is seen driving along route 85A SHEPPARD EAST route, drying out from an April shower as it heads to Don Mills Station. Taken in April 2015 by Lex Reid |
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Since September 2, 2014, the 134 PROGRESS began to operate the articulated buses to alleviate pressures for the students at Centennial College. Here, Jelo Gutierrez Cantos snapped this shot of TTC NovaBUS LFS Artic bus #9061 is seen operating on the 134B PROGRESS branch on September 12, 2014. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9063 on Route 85A Sheppard East on a very snowy winter day taken on Monday February 2nd, 2015. Taken by Lex Reid. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9063 on layover at Scarborough Centre Station, before starting its trip along the 199 FINCH ROCKET route to Finch Station. Photo by TorontoTransportGuy |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9067 operates on the 85 SHEPPARD EAST route in Sheppard-Yonge station on July 23, 2014. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9071 pulls through Finch station, in service on 39 FINCH EAST on October 24, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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TorontoTransportGuy shot this view of Novabus LFS Artic #9072 rolling along the 134 PROGRESS route on September 3, 2014 |
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TTC NovaBUS LFS Artic #9074 seen leaving Don Mills Stn. operating on route 85A SHEPPARD EAST. The route began operating artics in mid-July 2014. Photo taken on July 24, 2014 by "Arrow2Eglinton". |
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TTC NovaBus Articulated #9074 turns the corner at Scarborough Town Centre station, in service on 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS. This photo was taken by Jimmy Jin on February 17, 2019. |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9075 heads north on Yonge at Lawrence, in service as a YONGE SUBWAY SHUTTLE on the night of August 8, 2014. The photographer is anonymous. |
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On the Sheppard Avenue East and Warden Avenue stop taken on Friday, September 14, 2018, TTC NovaBUS LFS articulated bus #9075 glares on running on the 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS westbound to Don Mills station. This photo was supplied by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos. |
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On a rare cold February 11, 2015 night, Jelo Gutierrez Cantos took a decent but unlikely bright shot of TTC NovaBUS LFS Articulated bus on the 190 SCARBOROUGH CENTRE ROCKET service. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9077 operates on 133 NEILSON service on the evening of February 2, 2015. Photo by Toronto Transit Guy. |
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TTC Nova LFS Articulated bus #9078 picks up passengers at Don Mills station in service on the 85 SHEPPARD EAST route on August 1, 2017. Photo by Damian Baranowski. |
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TorontoTransportGuy shot this view of TTC Novabus LFS Artic #9080 traveling toward Rouge Hill GO Station along the 85A SHEPPARD EAST route on September 8th, 2014 |
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TTC Nova low floor articulated bus #9081 prepares to leave Finch station in service on the 199 FINCH ROCKET on October 8, 2014. Photo by Mark David. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9081 operates on 132 MILNER service on February 2, 2015. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9084 operates on 199 FINCH ROCKET service at the Scarborough Town Centre on January 28, 2015. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9086 arrives at Scarborough Centre Station terminal from Steeles along the 129 McCOWAN NORTH route, September 18th, 2014. Photo by Toby Oronos. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9089 making an extremely rare appearance on Route 133 Neilson on February 3rd, 2015 Taken by Lex Reid. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9090 serving the 85A SHEPPARD EAST route at Progress and Sheppard, heading toward Don Mills Station on May 20, 2015. Photo: Lex Reid |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9092 leads a rainbow as it pulls up to the Middlefield stop, westbound in 53E STEELES EAST EXPRESS service on the afternoon of April 11, 2017. Photo by James Bow. |
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On May 20, 2014, Lex Reid caught this shot of TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9094 cruising toward a bus stop along the 85A SHEPPARD EAST route. |
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TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9098 on Route 129 McCowan North at Scarborough Ctr making a lengthy run to Major Mackenzie taken on March 4th, 2015. Taken by Lex Reid. |
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Tried but true for the articulated buses on that route when it was formerly 39E FINCH EAST EXPRESS as Jelo Gutierrez Cantos took a photo dated February 13, 2015 when he snapped a TTC NovaBUS LFS articulated bus on the 199 FINCH ROCKET service crossing McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue East. |
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Since most of the Nova Artics are slowly being delivered to Mount Dennis in late 2014, some of the delivered units are being moved to Arrow Road to service the 36 FINCH WEST route. On October 29, 2014, Stephen Chui took this shot of the new TTC Nova Bus LFS Artic #9106 - one of the three artics from Arrow Road entered revenue service - seen in operation going eastbound on route 36 FINCH WEST en route to Finch Station in the sunset. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9109 departs Finch Station, operating northbound on Yonge in service on the 960 STEELES WEST EXPRESS in this late 2018 shot by Toby Rosebrugh. |
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TTC Nova LFS bus #9120 adds to service on the 7 BATHURST route to cover for the shutdown of the Spadina subway on January 22, 2017. Photo by Patrick Yutiga. |
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TTC NovaBus Articulated buses 9142 and 9100 lay over at Wilson station's bus terminal in service on the 929 DUFFERIN EXPRESS route. This photo was taken in autumn 2018 by Steven Sun. |
References
- Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses, Stauss Publications, Woodland Hills (California), 1988.
- Diesel City Bus, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (Ontario), 1991.
- Toronto Transit Commission 7200-7251, Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board Wiki, Website.
- Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board Wiki