Tripper Tuesday: Sacramento, California


Good Evening and welcome to Tripper Tuesday here at Metro Transit Archives. Today, I will explore the River City known at Sacramento. Their transit system, named Regional Transit, operates a full fleet of CNG buses, mainly Orion V & Orion VIIs.

This year, they are buying Gilligs to replace the oldest of the fleet, the 2200s and 2300s. In April 2010, I visited the city and was very impressed with their system, especially the light rail.

So enjoy 16 photos from that day featuring Regional Transit, Yolobus, and the University of California at Davis Transit systems.

2003 Orion VII CNG #2350 in Downtown Sacramento

2888, then one of the newest buses, is seen laying over on Route 1
 
2402 is one of five specially painted buses which made have been at one time used for a limited or express line.
 
A pair of Regional Transit operators kill time doing their recovery next to 2877
 
2003, which was one of the only high floor buses I saw, was spotted in Downtown Sacramento. Most likely, this coach and others in the series are probably retired.
 
One of the most interesting stations in the Regional Transit Light Rail System is called Manlove Station. I don't know why it's named that bus here's a photo of 2389 sporting the signage.
 
Speaking of the light rail, the system operates 76 cars on three lines. Pictured below is CAF car #226 in Downtown Sacramento. You can't see it but this is a 4-car consist, mainly operated in the rush hours.
 
The first set of Light Rail cars are the Siemens-Duewag U2A model. 36 cars were built and pictured is car #119 at Watt/1-80 Station, the former end of the Blue Line.
 
Outside of Regional Transit, there are several other carriers that operate commuter service into Downtown Sacramento. Included in Elk Grove Transit. At the time, they operated Orion V, VIIs and a small fleet of ultra rare Flxible CNG buses. Here are some below.


Roseville and Yuba-Sutter Transit also operate express trips.


Then there's Yolobus, which started long enough the fashionable phrase. Their fleet is very similar to Regional Transit with mostly Orions but they have a few commuter buses and a small set of NABIs


 
Lastly is the University of California at Davis Transit System, known at Unitrans, which is famous for operating British double deckers as well as CNG Orions and New Flyers.


 
Well that's it for this Tripper Tuesday. Hoped you enjoyed Sacramento and its transit systems. Next stop...The History of Metro Transit Archives Part VI (2011)

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