GMC RTS bus
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The GMC RTS bus is the last generation of General Motors buses which once dominated city bus service. It is notable for its striking styling, with no flat body or window panels. The timeless design can be compared to another GMC product, the motorhome. It was the product of a competition to produce a high technology bus. Other buses of the period were the less successful Flxible, which had problems with breaking frames, and the AM General, whose design was similar to the New Look. The design was so controversial that some agencies opted for a modernized New look, the GMC Classics.
GMC sold the RTS design and patent rights to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC) of Roswell, New Mexico in May 1987 and continued production until 2002, when it was discontinued by NovaBus. The production was revived, however, by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend.
Most new buses feature simpler flat-sided construction and are built by specialized coach makers. They remain in service in many cities and regional bus systems. Major users include MTA New York City Transit, MTA Bus Company, MBTA, Chicago Transit Authority, and NJ Transit. Some routes of Toronto Transit Commission use a newer version of RTS buses, which features a more straight face and other types of front doors. Early buses had a sloping rear, but a more effective air conditioning system uses the upright rear face, without a window.
Seating layout
Most of the seats are faced to the front, however a couple of groups are located along the walls. They are in the front of the bus. One such group is located behind driver's cab, and one just across. A similar group is just across back door, and some along-the-wall seats are between the back door and rear of the bus. There is also a group of 5 seats along the rear wall of the bus. Among the front-faced seats either 1 - 2 or 2 - 2 schemes are in use.
Depending completely on operator, seats may be plastic, upholstered and reclinable as in intercity buses. MTA New York City Transit, does it on buses which formerly ran on express lines. But as they bought MCI Coaches for express routes, these reclinable seats buses run on heavily used city routes. It is very comic to see such buses crowded by passengers in peak hours.
Collectibles
Hot Wheels released a body with the sloping rear called "Rapid Transit" as well as a tatoo version, but there are not as many models as the New Look or Old Look buses.
Doors
The main door is located in the very front (and includes a flat panel of glass). It is sliding, and operated directly by driver. The rear door features pneumatic blockage, which is controlled by the driver. When the door is blocked, it can be opened by hand. It opens just by turning it 90 degrees.However, some RTS buses, like those in NJ Transit, use the automatic version of a back door, operated completely by driver.
Photo Gallery
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