Transit buses have a limited life cycle. But a bus that is ready to be retired from the daily grind of carrying GO passengers may still be used for some other purposes. That’s why Metrolinx has sold a twelve-and-a-half-year-old bus to Peel Regional Police.

Today (Nov. 25) Peel Regional Police (PRP) received a decommissioned Metrolinx bus for a token payment of one dollar, extending a partnership that goes back to 2013.

The bus will be used for a mix of purposes including transporting recruits for training, community relations activities, a Youth and Police program, training at Canadian Forces Base Borden and tactical deployments.

Without a bus, PRP had to rent vans which took up time, administrative efforts and money.

“It’s easier to deploy all the officers in a bus,” said Ewan MacGregor, manager of fleet services for PRP.

This is second time Metrolinx has provided a bus for PRP. A bus provided in 2013 lasted until 2020.

“We really appreciate the partnership with Metrolinx,” MacGregor said.

While the bus has aged to the point where it is not suitable for daily operations and high milage work on GO routes, it still has enough life it in for special purposes with PRP.

“For us that bus would be working all day versus Peel Region Police where it will be on an ad hoc basis,” said Gabriela Avila, a senior manager in Commercial Management with Metrolinx.

The bus is twelve-and-a-half years old and has logged 1.3 million kilometres. It was sold ‘as is.’ With depreciation, the bus has zero accounting value to Metrolinx.

The engine is functioning, but it will require some work. PRP branding will replace GO colours and logos.

“We are essentially donating the bus to Peel Regional Police because we’ve always supported other government agencies,” said Mike Palmieri, a senior manager in Metrolinx Bus Fleet Maintenance.

Metrolinx has previously supplied buses to York Region Police and Centennial College.

Story by Mike Winterburn, Metrolinx News senior writer