King County Metro fleet


King County Metro is the local public transit operator in Seattle and King County, Washington, United States., Metro operates the seventh largest fleet of buses in the United States, with a total of 1,583 buses. The agency's buses traveled a total of and transported over 123 million passengers in 2019.
Upon taking over transit operations on January 1, 1973, Metro used buses acquired from predecessor agencies Seattle Transit System and the Metropolitan Transit Corporation, still painted in their original colors. Metro acquired the 91-bus fleet of the Metropolitan Transit Company in December 1972 at a cost of $2.75 million. The first fleet of new buses ordered by Metro arrived in June 1976, consisting of 145 diesel coaches manufactured by AM General. In 1978, Metro became the first large transit agency in North America to introduce articulated buses to its fleet, which required some bus stops to be rebuilt to accommodate coaches. The fleet of 151 buses were manufactured by German maker MAN as part of a bulk order with other large U.S. transit agencies.

Vehicle types

In 1978, Metro was the first large transit agency to order high-capacity articulated buses. Today, King County Metro has one of the largest articulated fleets in North America and articulated buses account for about 42% of the agency's fleet.
In 1979, the agency ordered some of the first coaches in the U.S. equipped with wheelchair lifts to provide accessibility for disabled passengers. Early lifts often became stuck and had a very short platform, which was replaced by more reliable models in the 1980s. Metro's entire fleet became wheelchair-accessible in 1999.
Metro was reluctant to adopt low-floor buses, not buying any until 2003. Low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity which may have been a concern. Whatever the reason for the delay, Metro has now embraced low-floor buses and all new fleet additions since 2003 have been low-floor and the last high-floor buses were retired in March 2020.

Trolleys

Metro maintains a fleet of electric trolleybuses that serve 15 routes along almost 70 miles of two-direction overhead wire. This is the second largest trolleybus system in the United States by ridership and fleet size. The trolleybuses are valued by Metro both as zero-emission vehicles, and as vehicles well adapted to Seattle's hilly terrain.
Metro's trolleybus fleet consists of 174 entirely low-floor Flyer Industries|New Flyer] Xcelsior coaches. Of the total, 110 are vehicles and 64 are, articulated buses. The buses include an auxiliary power unit, to allow them to operate off-wire for up to.
Occasionally Metro will use diesel or diesel-electric hybrid coaches on trolley routes. Reasons for doing this include construction, overhead wire maintenance or events that require coaches to go long distances off-route, "coach changes" or to add temporary additional capacity. The latter two cases sometimes lead to diesel buses being used, in order to get the replacement or supplementary vehicle into service as quickly as possible; diesel buses can reach the point of entry into service faster, as they do not need to follow the overhead wires when deadheading.

Diesel-electric hybrids

Metro operates the largest fleet of hybrid buses in the country. The first hybrid buses were purchased in 2004 for use with routes that operated in the Downtown [Seattle Transit Tunnel]. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducted a one-year comparative study between conventional diesel and hybrid-powered buses operating on a typical King County drive cycle. Results showed that the hybrid powered buses lowered fuel consumption by 23%; NOx by 18%; carbon monoxide by 60%; and total hydrocarbon by 56% when compared to conventional diesel buses. Those results have led Metro to purchase hybrid buses exclusively since 2005. Metro now has over 700 hybrid buses in the fleet, with more on order.

Hush mode

Buses equipped with the GM-Allison EP50 and the Allison H 50 EP parallel hybrid systems had a special "hush mode" that allowed the buses to operate solely on electric power, reducing tailpipe emissions and noise while operating in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Before entering the tunnel, the operator pushed a button that put the coach into hush mode. While buses were inside stations, the coaches operated solely on electric propulsion. In between the tunnel's stations, the buses used electric traction to get to, after which a combination of the electric and diesel motors were used. The operation of the diesel engine allowed the batteries to recharge. Hush mode would normally be deactivated by the operator as they exited the tunnel, but the mode will be automatically deactivated after the coach had traveled a certain distance.
Buses have not operated in the tunnel since March 23, 2019.

Series hybrids

Metro's newest buses are equipped with the BAE Systems HybriDrive, a series hybrid system. In these buses an electric motor turns the wheels, with power provided by a generator attached to a diesel engine and regenerative braking. Any excess power is stored in batteries on the roof of the bus. Because the diesel engine is not directly propelling the bus, it can operate at a more steady, fuel-efficient speed.
Buses delivered after 2014 are equipped with the upgraded HybriDrive Series-E which uses electrically powered accessory systems to increase fuel efficiency and allow the diesel engine to stop when the bus is stopped and the batteries are sufficiently charged.

Battery electric buses

Metro began testing three new Proterra Catalyst battery electric buses in 2015. The coaches are capable of traveling over 26 miles before the battery needs to be recharged. A special fast charge station located at the Eastgate Park and Ride allow the bus to be fully recharged in under 10 minutes, during the driver's normally scheduled layover. These new vehicles get the equivalent of 20.8 MPG, which is over 6 times better than the 3.18 MPG seen on Metro's series hybrid electric coaches. The coaches were purchased with support from a $4.7 million Federal Transit Administration grant and entered revenue service on February 17, 2016. They operate on shorter routes on the eastside, specifically Routes 226 and 241. Metro has committed to purchasing 120 electric buses with the option to purchase up to 80 additional vehicles by 2020. In 2017 and 2018, Metro tested electric buses with ranges of 140 miles from several manufacturers, and plans to have a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.

Historic preservation

Metro has a special fleet of more than a dozen historic motor buses and trolleybuses ranging from ones built in the late 1930s and early 1940s through to ones only recently retired. The coaches are restored, maintained and operated under an agreement with the Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association, a non-profit organization formed in 1981. A temporary display of four historic Seattle Transit System buses was installed at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square for several days in November 1984 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's streetcar system. Metro maintains ownership of the historic fleet, providing coverage under its fleet self-insurance along with storage, work space and parts on an as available basis.
Money to operate the coaches and purchase parts not in Metro stock is generated by selling tickets to public excursions. The first trips took place in 1984, and nowadays MEHVA typically operates six to eight per year. Each excursion has a different route and a different emphasis.
MEHVA was established in 1981, as Metro prepared to retire trolleybuses that had been operating in Seattle since the 1940s. Since that time, MEHVA acquired other retired transit vehicles which were formerly operated in King County. Often these retired coaches were purchased by private citizens and left on the owner's property for many decades, leaving them in need of restoration. The collection of vehicles has gradually expanded over time, with the addition of newly retired buses when deemed historically notable and not yet represented in the collection.

Liveries

Metro's buses are painted in various color schemes that are assigned based on their type; the last major change was in 2004. The buses generally have their bottom half painted in yellow with a different color on top, including purple for electric trolleybuses and red for RapidRide buses. It is intended to be replaced beginning in 2025 with the introduction of battery electric buses that are colored yellow and light blue for conventional coaches or red and purple for RapidRide.
Several buses also have special liveries, including a "Ride with Pride" coach, a Black Lives Matter design by transit operator Robert L. Horton, and a mural for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Current fleet roster

Make/ModelLengthThumbnailPropulsionYearFleet Series
Notes
New Flyer DE60LFdiesel-electric hybrid

New Flyer DE60LFAdiesel-electric hybrid
  • Dedicated to RapidRide routes.
  • Unit 6000 was built as a prototype and has a rear window, a feature that was eliminated from the production coaches.
OBI Orion VIIdiesel-electric hybrid
  • First buses in fleet to be equipped with series diesel-electric hybrid propulsion.
New Flyer DE60LFRdiesel-electric hybrid
New Flyer DE60LFRdiesel-electric hybrid,,

  • Dedicated to RapidRide routes.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE35diesel-electric hybrid2013-2014
  • First buses in fleet with HybriDrive Series-E system that shuts off diesel engine while stopped to decrease emissions and fuel consumption.
  • Buses originally ordered from Orion, order transferred to New Flyer after closure of Orion factory.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40diesel-electric hybrid2015
  • Buses originally ordered from Orion, order transferred to New Flyer after closure of Orion factory.
New Flyer Xcelsior XT40electric trolleybus
  • First trolleybuses in fleet with low-floor design, air conditioning and a battery power system to allow coaches to operate off-wire for short distances.
New Flyer Xcelsior XT60electric trolleybus2015–2016
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid20156200–6219

  • Dedicated to RapidRide routes.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid2018
  • Dedicated to RapidRide routes.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid2019
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid
  • Equipped with three doors for use on urban routes.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid
  • Equipped with two doors for use on suburban routes.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid2018
  • Equipped with three doors for use on urban routes.
  • Coach 8261 is New Flyer's 10,000th Xcelsior.
Gillig Low Floordiesel-electric hybrid2017–2019
New Flyer Xcelsior XE40battery electric2021

  • 4700 delivered October 2021 for inspection and testing.
  • First bus entered service on March 30, 2022.
New Flyer Xcelsior XE60battery electric2021
  • 140-mile range with a 525 kWh battery.
  • First bus was delivered in April 2021.
  • First buses entered service on March 30, 2022.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60diesel-electric hybrid2023
  • Dedicated to the RapidRide G Line. Has five doors: three on the right and two on the left. Has interior bike racks.
  • Metro originally planned to order electric trolleybuses, but New Flyer was unable to supply a trolleybus that met all requirements.

Historic fleet

These historic buses are owned by King County Metro, but are restored, maintained, and operated by unpaid volunteers who are in the Metro Employee Historic Vehicle Association. The organization was founded in 1981 and operates annual excursion trips with their fleet. Metro preserved its first retired buses that year at the recommendation of Seattle city councilmember George Benson.
Make/ModelLengthThumbnailPropulsionYearPurchasing AgencyFleet NumberNotes
Kenworth H-30Diesel1938Seattle Municipal Street Railway1705
Twin Coach 30-GDiesel1939Seattle Transit System231
Twin Coach GWFT40 feetElectric trolleybus1940Seattle Transit System905Its original number when built was 905. Renumbered 643 in 1963, then 622 in 1965, which number it had when retired from regular service in January 1978. Renumbered back to 643 when cosmetically restored in 1982. Restored to operating condition in 1985–1990. Original fleet number 905 was restored in 2018.
PCF-Brill 40 SMT40 feetElectric trolleybus1940Seattle Transit System798Listed as a Seattle city landmark since 1978
Twin Coach 44 GTT40 feetElectric trolleybus1943Seattle Transit System636
Pullman-Standard 41CA-100-44CX40 feetElectric trolleybus1944Seattle Transit System1005
Kenworth K-10Diesel1947Suburban Transit System86
Twin Coach 41-SDiesel1948Seattle Transit System1705
General Motors TDH-510540 feetDiesel1955Seattle Transit System263
General Motors TDH-451240 feetDiesel1959Metropolitan Transit Corporation2962
Flxible New Look F2D6V-401-140 feetDiesel1963Seattle Transit System598
General Motors New Look T8H-530540 feetDiesel1968Seattle Transit System724
AM General Metropolitan 10240B40 feetDiesel1976Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle1122
AM General Metropolitan 10240T40 feetElectric trolleybus1979Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle1008
MAN/AM General SG 220-18-260 feetDiesel1978Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle1455
Flyer D900 D10240C40 feetDiesel1979Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle1657
MAN Americana SL40102L40 feetDiesel1987Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle3152
Breda DuoBus 350
60 feetDual-mode
1990Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle5034
Gillig Phantom 40102TBM1140 feetDiesel1997King County Metro3374
Gillig Phantom C28D102N440 feetElectric trolleybus2002King County Metro4195
New Flyer DE60LF60 feetDiesel-Electric Hybrid2004King County Metro2766
-----King County Metro--

In addition, No. 4020, one of the MAN SG-T 310 articulated trolleybuses, was donated to and preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in 2008 through the efforts of MEHVA. It was part of the first fleet of articulated trolleybuses to operate in America.

Retired fleet

Make/ModelLengthThumbnailPropulsionMotor/Powertrain)PurchasedRetiredFleet Series Seated
Capacity		Notes
Brill trolley40'Electric trolleybusGE19401963700–799
40
Twin Coach trolley40'Electric trolleybusWestinghouse19401978800–976 originally
600–659 after 1974
41Original series of 800–976 included 24 slightly larger units, built in 1943; remaining coaches renumbered in 1974. No. 905 preserved by Metro.
Pullman-Standard trolley40'Electric trolleybusGE19441978977–1006 originally
642–655 after 1974
44Remaining coaches after some retirements were renumbered in 1974. No. 1005 preserved by Metro.
GMC TDH-510540'Diesel19551982200–304
51No. 263 has been preserved by Metro.
Flxible "New Look"40'DieselDetroit Diesel 6V7119631986500-599
51No. 598 has been preserved.
GMC "New Look" T8H-530540'DieselDetroit Diesel 8V71N / Allison VS2-819681987700-769
48
AMG "Metropolitan" 10240B840'DieselDetroit Diesel 8V71N / Allison V730197619961100–1313
45
AMG "Metropolitan" 10240B840'DieselDetroit Diesel 8V71T / Allison V730197619961340-1349
45
MAN SG-22060'DieselMAN D2566 MLUM / Renk-Doromat 874B1978–197919991400-1550
72
Flyer D90040'DieselCummins VTB903/ Allison V730197919971600-1823
47
AMG 10240T40'Electric trolleybusGE19792003900-1009
45No. 911 not used.
Flyer D90035'DieselCummins VTB903 / Allison V730198019971850-1884
39
MAN SG-31060'DieselMAN D2566 MLUM/ Renk-Doromat 874B1982–198320012000-2201
70
MAN Americana40'DieselMAN D2566 MLUM/ Renk-Doromat 874B1986–198720043000-3146
3150-3159
44
MAN SG-T 31060'Electric trolleybusSiemens198720074000-4045
64
Breda DuoBus 350
60'Dual-mode Diesel: Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / ZF 4HP600
Electric Trolley: AEG / Westinghouse		1988–199120055000–5235
63
Breda DuoBus 350
60'Electric trolleybus conversionAEG/Westinghouse1988–1991
20164200–4258
56Last Breda trolleybus to be retired was unit 4243 on route 36 on October 27, 2016
Gillig Phantom35'DieselCummins M11 / Allison B400R Gen III19972015
34
New Flyer D60HF60'DieselCummins M11 / Allison B400R Gen III2018
64
Gillig Phantom40'Electric trolleybusGE 20022016
42
New Flyer D60LF60'DieselCaterpillar C9 / Allison B500R Gen IV20042018
56
StarTrans President LF28'DieselGMC/Duramax Allison 1000 series200920131900-1934
19Retired due to design flaws
Gillig Phantom40'DieselCummins M11/Allison WB-400R1996–199920193200-3594
42
  • 3341, 3361, & 3416 sold to Pullman Transit in 2014.
Gillig Phantom30'DieselCummins ISC/Allison WB-400R1999-200020201100–1194
30Last 4 coaches in service were 1104 and 1127 on Route 200, 1114 on Route 236/238 on March 20, 2020, and 1187 on Route 200 on March 10, 2020.
New Flyer D40LF40'DieselCummins ISL/Voith 864.3200320203600-3699
35Last two coaches to be retired were 3660 and 3680 on route 65/67 on April 8, 2020.
Proterra Catalyst BE4040'Battery ElectricUQM HD220 / Eaton EEV-7202201920201750-1751
38
  • Test buses
  • Original T461-T462 renumbered to 1750-1751.
    • XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE40'Battery ElectricSiemens ELFA2201820201752-1753
    		38
  • Test buses
  • Original 1252-1253 renumbered to 1752-1753.
    • XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE60'Battery ElectricSiemens ELFA2201820201754-1755
    		49
  • Test buses
  • Original 1250-1251 renumbered to 1754-1755.
    • BYD K940'Battery ElectricBYD TYC90A201820201756-1757
    		38Test buses
    BYD K11M60'Battery Electric201820201758-1759
    		Test buses
    New Flyer DE60LF60'Diesel-Electric HybridCaterpillar C9 / Allison EP50200420212600-2812
    		56
    Proterra Catalyst