From first to final stop

Every bus on the road keeps our community moving, safely carrying thousands of customers across Waterloo Region each day. Behind that service is a dedicated effort to ensure our buses are reliable, not just while on the road, but well beyond it. After a long life with GRT, many buses continue to be used. They go to other transit systems or are sent around the world for a second career.

That’s possible because of the care each bus receives throughout its time in service. GRT’s fleet and maintenance team play a key role in keeping buses reliable on the road and in strong condition after retirement.

In 2025, GRT retired 29 buses and added 44 new buses to its fleet. Many were purchased by other transit systems across Canada, including Kings Transit Authority in Nova Scotia, OC Transpo in Ottawa and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

“GRT has a good reputation for maintaining its vehicles, which has contributed to strong interest from buyers when buses are retired,” said Matt Landowski, Manager of Transit Maintenance. Other buses are sold through private buyers and resellers such as Skydome Truck Centre in Brampton, City View Bus Sales in Mississauga and TOK Performance in Concord. Those buyers often prepare and ship buses for continued use internationally.

Our buses have even found a second life as shuttle buses at major destinations like Disney. As Oswald Resendes, Assistant Manager of Transit Fleet Production and Maintenance Amenities, noted, “they were shipped in containers internationally and repurposed because they were still in good condition for use,” reflecting how far retired buses can travel in their second life.

Not all retired GRT buses leave the region or travel far distances. Some remain close to home and are repurposed to support local needs in new and practical ways. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one bus was converted into a mobile vaccine clinic, expanding access to vaccinations across Waterloo Region. It is still being used by Public Health as a vaccine bus in the community. 

Others have supported Waterloo Regional Police training exercises, providing a controlled space for scenario-based learning. More recently, a bus is being prepared for future use by Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services for special events, where it will be equipped to support on-site medical response and community safety.

The lifecycle of conventional buses is around 14 years. As Landowski explained, “it’s not set in stone, decisions are guided by performance, condition and the timing of new bus deliveries.” Regular inspections and ongoing maintenance play a key role in extending the life of each bus. Buses are brought in for servicing every 10,000 kilometres, allowing teams to identify issues early.

Major components are also replaced as needed, helping buses reach high kilometre milestones. “They typically get an engine replacement after about 500,000 kilometers,” Resendes noted. In many cases, buses can exceed one million kilometres before retirement, with some reaching as high as 1.2 million kilometres.

Before a bus leaves service, it goes through a detailed process to prepare it for its next stage. Equipment such as fare boxes, cameras and radios are removed for reuse, and all identifying elements are taken off. “Tires are also swapped out and any remaining GRT branding is removed, making sure the bus is ready for resale, repurposing or recycling,” Resendes explained.