Here's what riders can expect from Red Line electric buses and stations

Many IndyGo riders are already getting a sneak peek at what riding the Red Line will be like.

Set to open on Sept. 1, the Red Line's electric buses are currently being driven on Route 8. Many riders have already ridden on the shiny new buses, tested the USB chargers and experienced a quiet ride.

This is also a taste of what all bus-riding will eventually look like in Indianapolis. With the Purple and Blue lines set to open next, and IndyGo's is committed to producing an all-electric fleet by 2035.

Here's what future Red Line riders will experience, from waiting at the stations to buying tickets and tap cards to riding on the electric buses. 

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What are the stations like?

While passengers are waiting for their bus, they'll be protected from the elements by a shade structure. Signage at each stop will include the station name, route information and a system map. One unique feature will be the neighborhood maps, educating riders on the area.

Each station has monitors with real-time arrival and departure information, service announcements and weather updates. Updates will also be announced over the public address system. Benches and security cameras are also set up at each station. 

A new account-based system called MyKey will also launch with the Red Line. Riders can purchase reusable tap cards and refill them with funds via the MyKey mobile app, or at station kiosks, the transit center, online or over the phone. 

Each bus will have a MyKey reader where users can tap their cards on the screen for local routes. At rapid transit stations, riders will tap or scan at validators on the platforms before boarding. Riders will still be able to pay with cash on the bus.

When passengers are ready to disembark the bus, there are "fingers" that line up with the doorways, filling in the gap between the bus and platform. They look like long plastic combs and are used to assist those in a wheelchair or with a stroller. At stations in the center of the road, crosswalk signals and protected left turns ensure passengers are safe when crossing. 

How do riders like the buses?

On a recent Monday morning, there were a handful of riders on a Route 8 electric bus that travels on Washington Street from Indianapolis International Airport to Cumberland. The future Blue Line, which is scheduled to begin service in fall 2022, will replace this route. 

When Indianapolis resident William Basler walked on the bus, he proclaimed out loud, "I love these buses." When he sat down he immediately plugged his phone into one of the USB chargers that are next to or under most seats.

"It's my eighth or ninth time on one of these new buses," he said. "I like that the doors open on both sides so it's not as crowded."

One rider boarding the bus commented that the pivoting joint that connects the front and back sections "looks scary." The accordion-like joint almost looks as if it belongs on a spaceship. 

Brandon Howie, who lives on Indianapolis' east side, was traveling Downtown to get medicine and supplies for his newborn daughter. It was his second time on an electric bus. He said he would feel comfortable bringing his daughter on the bus.

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"It feels a little more safer," he said. "I can put the car seat in here and secure her closer to the window." 

Howie also likes that the buses are environmentally friendly, and will help in reducing emissions. 

How are drivers being trained?

Operators are currently being trained on how to drive and park the new buses, including docking at a mock station.

"Training is an integral part of the Red Line, and we have built in significant time starting in mid-June through opening in September," said Lauren Day, spokeswoman for IndyGo. 

Tim Cox is a bus rapid transit integration specialist for IndyGo, and is helping with the operator training for the new buses. He said driving an electric vehicle is different than driving a diesel one. 

"You have to change the way you're driving," he said. "On a diesel bus you floor it when you take off. If you do that on an electric bus, it will diminish the battery faster. Instead, you let it coast and it will help regenerate the battery and power it back up a bit." 

Some of the stations are curbside, while others are in the center of the road where drivers dock at the stations on opposite side of the bus. It's a bit of an adjustment learning how to dock, and Cox said the training takes about four to eight hours. 

Kellie Hwang is a reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang.