San Francisco Muni currently operates nearly 800 buses on around 80 routes around the City. These vehicles are the workhorses of Muni, in which all of them have no air conditioning; instead, windows can be opened to make the bus interior cool, and in the winter, heaters provide warmth for passenger comfort. An interesting fact: although electric trolleybuses operate through hills, the steepest route operated by Muni uses diesel buses, with the 67-Bernal Heights line climbing and descending a 23.1% gradient grade versus 22.8% on the 24-Divisadero trolleybus line.
You will notice two different liveries of Muni painted on their vehicles: vehicles in white paint sport a simplified livery dating from around 1998, and the silver and red livery sported on all Orion and New Flyer buses (as well as select ETI and Neoplan buses) date from around 2000. See some revised bus lines here. And soon, I will be building a Bay Area Transit Map for Tourists. Note: any of these types may be operated as bus bridges if either Muni Metro or Cable Car lines break down. |
High-Floor Buses
For many years, Muni has been buying hundreds of high-floored buses through new orders or as second-hand from other agencies to operate on nearly all routes within San Francisco. These vehicles are preferred over the low-floored models because these can operate through hills more efficiently. These buses are used on most routes for various purposes, including bus bridges when the Muni Metro, cable car, or streetcar line/s temporarily shuts down for maintenance or when an accident happens on the rail network. These constitute nearly 90% of all buses operated by the agency. The handicapped ramps for all types are located at the front of the bus, in which the bottom step, when operated, moves outward when boarding and disembarking a wheelchair rider.
Neoplan AN440 (40-foot) standard bus (81xx to 83xx series)
This bus type is the most common among Muni's diesel bus fleet, numbering to 206 vehicles. Note that some of the older buses have been retired and progressively replaced with the New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 (cf. below)
This bus type is the most common among Muni's diesel bus fleet, numbering to 206 vehicles. Note that some of the older buses have been retired and progressively replaced with the New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 (cf. below)
White and Orange body (with flip dot headsigns)
Gray and Red livery (with flipdot and digital LCD headsigns)
Neoplan AN440 Refurbished Buses
In 2013 and 2014, Muni refurbished some of its Neoplan buses to allow them to operate for an extended period of time. The refurbishment included newer seats, better headsigns, and repowered engines. All of these refurbished buses are deployed out of the Kirkland Yard.
In 2013 and 2014, Muni refurbished some of its Neoplan buses to allow them to operate for an extended period of time. The refurbishment included newer seats, better headsigns, and repowered engines. All of these refurbished buses are deployed out of the Kirkland Yard.
Neoplan AN460 (60-foot) articulated bus (62xx and 64xx series)
These buses are primarily operated on the most frequently-used lines, including:
- All times on the 8-Bayshore, 14R-Mission Rapid, 38-Geary, and 38R-Geary Rapid lines
- All weekday-only trips on the 1BX-California 'B' Express (AM peak only) and 8AX and 8BX-Bayshore Expresses (AM and PM peaks)
- Select trips on weekday-only commute lines, including the 30X-Marina Express
- All weekend and holiday trips on the 7-Haight/Noriega
Note: these are being retired and replaced with the New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 articulated buses (below).
Red and Orange Livery (flip dot headsigns)
Silver and Red Livery (flip dot and LCD headsigns)
Low-Floor Buses
These buses are primarily based out of the Woods Division in the eastern part of San Francisco, operating on numerous daytime routes around the City, as well as on the 91-Owl line. These vehicles feature step-free walkways, making boarding easier for seniors and people with disabilities. In comparison with the high-floored variants, the handicapped ramps flip out to the roadway, making boarding and disembarking easy for both wheelchair-bound passengers and the bus drivers. Both bus variants are made by now-defunct Orion Bus Industries.
Orion VII (30-foot) baby bus (85xx series)
These buses are used on low-density community routes, notably the 35-Eureka, 36-Teresita, 37-Corbett, 39-Coit, 52-Excelsior, 57-Parkmerced, and 67-Bernal Heights lines. Occasionally, Muni operates these on the 10-Townsend and 29-Sunset lines as well.
These buses are used on low-density community routes, notably the 35-Eureka, 36-Teresita, 37-Corbett, 39-Coit, 52-Excelsior, 57-Parkmerced, and 67-Bernal Heights lines. Occasionally, Muni operates these on the 10-Townsend and 29-Sunset lines as well.
Orion VII (40-foot) standard bus (84xx series)
This bus type, along with the Neoplan AN440, operates on a majority of bus lines in the City.
This bus type, along with the Neoplan AN440, operates on a majority of bus lines in the City.
New Flyer Xcelsior
This bus type is slated to replace (if not complement) its current fleet of Neoplan AN440 and AN460 buses, in which it now has over 100 buses in operation. Select buses have three bike racks deployed as a test by Muni to see the feasibility of having more bikes being deployed on most lines.
Note: select Xcelsior XDE40 buses now operate out of Kirkland Yard, which used to be exclusively served by Neoplan AN440 buses.
This bus type is slated to replace (if not complement) its current fleet of Neoplan AN440 and AN460 buses, in which it now has over 100 buses in operation. Select buses have three bike racks deployed as a test by Muni to see the feasibility of having more bikes being deployed on most lines.
Note: select Xcelsior XDE40 buses now operate out of Kirkland Yard, which used to be exclusively served by Neoplan AN440 buses.
New Flyer XDE40 Low-Floor Bus (86xx Series)
New Flyer XDE40 Low-Floor Bus, Low 87xx Series (8701-8750)
Select 87xx series units are based out of Kirkland Yard since early 2017 to complement the Neoplan buses still in service. Such buses operate on select lines, including:
Select 87xx series units are based out of Kirkland Yard since early 2017 to complement the Neoplan buses still in service. Such buses operate on select lines, including:
- 1AX and 1BX-California 'A' and 'B' Expresses (weekday afternoon peaks only)
- 10-Townsend (additional trips provided from Woods)
- 12-Folsom/Pacific
- 28-19th Avenue
- 28R-19th Avenue Rapid (weekdays only)
- 31AX and 31BX-Balboa 'A' and 'B' Expresses (weekday peaks only)
- 38AX and 38BX-Geary 'A' and 'B' Expresses (weekday peaks only)
- 43-Masonic
- 47-Van Ness
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40, High 87xx Series (8751-8780)
These buses, debuted in September 2017, are based at the Kirkland Yard near Fisherman's Wharf. These new vehicles will slowly replace the aging Neoplan AN440 buses and are in service on lines listed above.
These buses, debuted in September 2017, are based at the Kirkland Yard near Fisherman's Wharf. These new vehicles will slowly replace the aging Neoplan AN440 buses and are in service on lines listed above.
New Flyer Xcelsior 88xx Series (8800-8823)
These buses use the BAE HybriDrive Hybrid system for its transmission and Cummins ISB6.7 engine
These buses use the BAE HybriDrive Hybrid system for its transmission and Cummins ISB6.7 engine
New Flyer Xcelsior 88xx Series (8824-8901)
These buses are operated with the Allison H50 EP hybrid transmission and Cummins ISL9 engine. Units 8848 and above have white numbering on the sides of the bus and have functioning air conditioning.
These buses are operated with the Allison H50 EP hybrid transmission and Cummins ISL9 engine. Units 8848 and above have white numbering on the sides of the bus and have functioning air conditioning.
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 Low-Floor Bus (65xx, 66xx, and 67xx Series)
This bus type complements its existing fleet of Neoplan AN460 articulated buses, operating out of the Flynn Yard (with some stored at Islais Creek). It is currently used on several routes, including:
65xx and 66xx Series (6500 to 6628)
This bus type deploys the Allison H 50 EP hybrid system, and multiple batches of this series have been delivered.
This bus type complements its existing fleet of Neoplan AN460 articulated buses, operating out of the Flynn Yard (with some stored at Islais Creek). It is currently used on several routes, including:
- 1AX and 1BX-California 'A' and 'B' Expresses
- 7-Haight/Noriega (weekends and holidays only)
- 8-Bayshore (and its express variants, 8AX and 8BX)
- 9R-San Bruno Rapid (weekdays only)
- 14R-Mission Rapid
- 30X-Marina Express
- 38-Geary (and its Rapid variant, 38R)
- 49-Van Ness/Mission
65xx and 66xx Series (6500 to 6628)
This bus type deploys the Allison H 50 EP hybrid system, and multiple batches of this series have been delivered.
- 6500-6554: these have red LED lights for its voice annunciators
- 6560-6584: these have gold LED lights for its voice annunciators
- 6585-6628: these have white numbers on the sides and have gold LED lights
66xx Series (6629 to 6697)
These have the new TwinVision headsigns and side signs, similar to 8751-8780 above.
These have the new TwinVision headsigns and side signs, similar to 8751-8780 above.
67xx Series
The 67xx series has a BAE Series HybriDrive hybrid system propulsion, which explains the grills on the rear side of the bus (and differentiates it from the 65xx series). All 31 of these buses have gold LED lights for its voice annunciators.
The 67xx series has a BAE Series HybriDrive hybrid system propulsion, which explains the grills on the rear side of the bus (and differentiates it from the 65xx series). All 31 of these buses have gold LED lights for its voice annunciators.
Electric TrolleybusesWith two types of buses and available in standard and articulated forms, San Francisco Muni is the only agency in the Bay Area (and one of a few in the United States) that operates electric trolleybuses.
Now has its own showcase! |
Bus Interiors
These images are taken from most bus types listed above.
Muni Buses with full ad wraps
Many of San Francisco Muni's buses (as well as light rail vehicles) sport full wrap advertisements since it has a simple livery to work on, allowing it to have advertisements that span its vehicles. These are most likely to be seen on the following vehicle types:
Many of San Francisco Muni's buses (as well as light rail vehicles) sport full wrap advertisements since it has a simple livery to work on, allowing it to have advertisements that span its vehicles. These are most likely to be seen on the following vehicle types:
- Neoplan AN440
- Neoplan AN460
- ETI Tr14SF (40-footer electric trolleybus)