Winnipeg Transit's struggling fleet gets boost from new bus arrivals

Winnipeg Transit has more buses on the city's roads thanks to a new shipment that has arrived, while staff continue to deal with a bus shortage that abruptly changed the fall schedule.

On Tuesday, Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardropsaidsome New Flyer buses that were ordered in 2014 have arrived, bringing the fleet up to 603 buses.

Wardrop said94 buses remain off the roads because they need repairs, but he is hopeful that they will be worked on soon.

Buses that are supposed to be retired will continue operating until the fleet returns to normal, Wardrop told the city's infrastructure renewal and public works committee.

Last month, Winnipeg Transit suddenly scaled back service on numerous routes due to a bus shortage, which officials blamed on a repair backlog that was taking longer than expected to clear.

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Transit officials said the backlog was largely linked to a problem in the emissions control systems in some buses.

Plan to restore full service in new year

Earlier on Tuesday, Mayor Brian Bowman told CBC's Information Radio the reduced schedule will remain in place for the rest of this year.

"The director of transit has advised to the CAO that Transit is operating on that revised schedule now without incident," he said.

"The revised schedule does cover through until December, and the target is to still ramp up to full bus service in the new year."

When asked if there are ways to restore full service sooner, Bowman said Winnipeg Transit staff are working hard to resolve the issues behind the repair backlog.

"At its very root it's an emissions control issue, and that's what we're pursuing is ways we can have the associated backlog alleviated," he said.

"So there are efforts, including talking to the bus [engine] manufacturer, Cummins and those are ongoing right now."

At Tuesday's meeting, Wardrop said Winnipeg Transit has worked out the issue with Cummins.

The manufacturer has boosted capacity at its maintenance facility to get repairs done sooner, mainly by bringing in more staff and ordering more required parts, he added.

At the same time, Wardrop said Winnipeg is still hit hard by the bus shortage because of its lean ratio of operating versus spare buses.