ST. ALBERT TRANSIT
2025-26
Nova Bus LFS #941-951
After being an a reliable New Flyer customer since the early
1990s, with only forays into medium duty buses (SLF's) and the more recent BYD
electrics, a major change was on the horizon when St. Albert Transit issued an
RFP for buses on November 29, 2023 that would end up dramatically changing the
fleet make up. Including options the RFP called for up to 19 buses and this was
broken down as follows:
2024 budget year- 2 40' growth buses
2025 budget year- 3 40' replacement buses, 5 60' replacement buses
Option year:
2026 budget year- 7 40' replacement buses, 2 60' replacement buses
Growth buses allow a transit agency to expand service by increasing the fleet
size.
On paper, this was enough buses to replace all 3 2005 D40LF's, 7/13 2007
D40LFR's, and all 2007 D60LF's, among the last D60LF's remaining in transit
service.
Nova Bus was awarded the contract on June 7, 2024 for $11,568,750.00. Pricing
was higher than anticipated with supply chain disruptions, extended procurement
timelines, and unexpected price inflation being cite, which required council
approval to increase the budget for the buses. The two 2024 growth 40' buses had
been budgeted at $810,000, but came in at $916,750. The 2026 option year was
exercised and included another increase to the budget for inflation. At this
time, it looked like this could have been a one off order for St. Albert should
they continue to purchase diesel buses as Nova Bus, who had already retracted
from the USA market, had announced it's intention to cease diesel bus production
in 2026 to focus on electric bus production. In a local newspaper article in
June 2024 it was even noted "The
company's decision won't affect the city's order for nine new buses to be
delivered on or shortly after Jan. 1, 2026" in reference to the 2026 budget year
order.
This would begin an interesting 1 year period as these 3 technically separate
orders would trickle in.
The first D40LF to fall was 862, last running on July 16, 2026, and going to
auction during the quieter summer period ahead of the first Nova Bus arriving.
940 arrived in early-mid August. After no doubt some training for mechanics and
drivers, 940 first tracked in service on a late afternoon block on August 25,
2026 which included a trip into Edmonton. We are unsure of an exact in service
date for 941 as it didn't initially track, but it was suspected in service on
September 2, 2025. For the first two weeks the 2 buses generally kept to short
AM And PM peak blocks, but by September 18, 2025 had been turned loose into
regular service.
The 2025 purchases started arriving later in September, with 942 starting to
track September 29, 2025 942. The next day 864 ran it's last revenue kilometer
and was retired and sent to auction. One month later on October 30, 2025 866 was
retired and sent to auction. 863 had survived the first 3 retirements, and with
only 3 growth buses between the 2024 and 2025 budget years it was now safe for a
few months as LFS Artics rolled in. 943 would start tracking on November 22,
2025 and December 2, 2025 for 944 rounding out the first 5 LFS's, entering
service at the rate of about 1 bus per month.
The 3rd budget year of LFS's would start entering since with 945 on April 22,
2026. Quite a bit later than "on or shortly after Jan. 1, 2026" as had been
reported!
On June 1, 946 entered service followed by 947 on June 8, 948 on June 18, 949 on
June 29, and 950 on July 21. #951 finally entered service on August 24, 2026
exactly 365 days after 940 hit the road.
Known retirements (they went to auction) would be in order: 867, 869, 876 as of
August 20.
As for Nova Bus discontinuing diesel bus production. This decision was reversed.
With a follow up RFP in July 2025 for 13 more 40' diesel buses Nova Bus was
announced as the winner on June 9, 2026 for their second contract with St.
Albert which will increase the Nova Bus contingent to 32 units, or about half of
the fleet. These buses will cost nearly $1 million each.
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Specs for these buses: Engine: Transmission: Seating: InSight Prime+ all black Destination Sign: Fleet notes: 940-944 were built in 2025. Despite 942 entering service within a month of 941, they are separate orders were separate serial number ranges. 945-951 are 2026 units. It made the most sense to keep all of them on one page. Same InSight Prime+ seating as the XD60's but without the green insert. Instead they are all black. |
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| Thumbnail | Bus # | Date | Description |
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940 | September 3, 2025 | #940 southbound on St. Albert Trail approaching St. Anne Street where the bus will make a right turn, while working a route A32 during the AM peak. |
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940 | September 22, 2025 | #940 heading southbound on 101 St into Edmonton Downtown, approaching 103A Ave as a route 201. |
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940 | September 26, 2025 | #940 turns south onto St. Albert Trail after departing the St. Albert Centre Exchange as a route 201.Note the different colours in the side fleet numbers. Where these originally going to be different numbers but were changed? |
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941 | September 5, 2025 | #941 at the Government Centre Transit Centre as a route 208. |
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941 | September 5, 2025 | #941 at the Government Centre Transit Centre as a route 208. |
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941 | September 12, 2025 | #941 turning north onto St. Albert Trail from St. Anne Street while working an AM peak A32, although the sign have already changed to "Not In Service". |
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941 | September 30, 2025 | #941 southbound on 106 St near 111 Ave nearly at the 202's terminus at the Kingway/ RAH Transit Centre. |
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942 | October 23, 2025 | #942 northbound on 107 St at 99 Ave a a PM peak route 208. |
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942 | January 24, 2026 | #942 in Edmonton westbound on Jasper Ave at 100A St as a route 201. |
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942 | January 24, 2026 | #942 in Edmonton westbound on Jasper Ave at 100A St as a route 201. |
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943 | February 27, 2026 | #943 turning east onto 103A Ave from 101 St south as a route 201. |
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944 | July 31, 2026 | #944 turning onto Princess Elizabeth Ave from Kingsway Ave while working a route 202. |
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945 | July 2, 2026 | #945 on a layover at the University as a route 203. |
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945 | July 2, 2026 | #945 on a layover a route 202 at Naki later the same day. |
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947 | July 2, 2026 | #947 at Naki after arriving a route 201. |
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948 | June 29, 2026 | #948 about to cross the Metro Line tracks on 111 Ave while approaching the Kingsway/ RAH Transit Centre. |
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949 | August 29, 2026 | #949 turning west onto Jasper Ave from 107 St while working a route 208. |
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950 | August 3, 2026 | #950 at Naki while the St. Alber'ts on demand service known as Book-A-Bus. |
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950 | August 8, 2026 | #950 northbound on 109 St at 105 Ave a route 201. |
This page last updated August 25, 2026
Sources:
https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/new-transit-buses-to-cost-15-million-more-than-expected-city-8706120
https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/st-albert-to-spend-additional-963k-on-bus-replacements-in-2026-9100020