VDL DB250

DAF/VDL DB250
Overview
Manufacturer DAF / VDL
Production 1991 - 2006
Assembly Eindhoven, Netherlands
Body and chassis
Doors 1 or 2
Floor type Step entrance
Low floor
Powertrain
Engine DAF ATi RS 8.6 litre
DAF Paccar PF 9.2 litre
Transmission Voith DIWA.3 851.3
Voith DIWA.3 854.3
ZF Ecomat 4HP500
ZF Ecomat 5HP500
Chronology
Successor Wright Gemini 2

The VDL DB250 (originally the DAF DB250) was a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.

DB250

The DAF DB250 was launched in October 1991 and originally only available with Optare Spectra bodywork with 260 built, mainly for operators in the United Kingdom although 31 were sold to Istanbul, Turkey.[1][2] It later became available with the Northern Counties Palatine body.

DB250LF

Abus Optare Spectra bodied DB250LF that was the first low floor double-decker bus to enter service in the United Kingdom
Arriva London Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DB250LF at Trafalgar Square in April 2015

The DB250LF, the low-floor version of the DB250, was the first low-floor double-decker bus chassis available in the United Kingdom. The DB250LF is readily identified by the centrally-exiting exhaust at the rear, which can cause problems with extreme changes of slope. A revised version of DB250LF was launched in 2004 as the DB250+. The design has received a number of modifications, one of which is the use of independent front suspension.

The first DB250LFs received Optare Spectra body, which was sold exclusively on the DB250. The first low-floor variant entered service on 4 February 1998 with Abus of Bristol, narrowly beating a Travel West Midlands DB250LF to operate the first low floor double-decker bus service in the UK.[3]

Later DB250 chassis were fitted with Alexander ALX400, Plaxton President, East Lancs Myllennium Lowlander and Wright Pulsar Gemini bodies. The development of a Wright alternative arose because Arriva wished to buy both the Wright body and DB250 chassis. Unable to do so, it instead purchased over 100 Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs. Wright subsequently developed the Pulsar Gemini in 2003 in order to win more orders from Arriva.[4]

Arriva London purchased 632 between 1998 and 2005 with Alexander ALX400 (389), Plaxton President (110) and Wright Pulsar Gemini (133) bodywork.[5] Arriva Midlands and Arriva Yorkshire also purchased examples.

Other sizeable operators were London Central (24), Reading Buses (26), Travel West Midlands (21) and Wilts & Dorset (78).[2]

The DB250LF chassis was also adopted by Wrightbus for the development of its hybrid-powered double-decker bus, the Wright Pulsar Gemini HEV.[6]

Production of the DB250 ended in 2006, although examples continued entering service until 2008. Its successor, the Wright Gemini 2 integral double decker with VDL chassis modules, was launched in November 2008.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Putting on a brave face Commercial Motor 24 October 1991
  2. 1 2 Optare Spectra Bus Lists on the Web
  3. ↑ The History Abus
  4. ↑ Show debut for Pulsar Gemini Wrightbus 29 October 2003
  5. ↑ "Inward-facing rear seats go with disappearing DLAs" Buses issue 720 May 2015 page 22
  6. ↑ Dubin to get hybrid double-decker Bus & Coach Professional 11 April 2007
  7. ↑ New integrated Wrightbus double-deck Bus & Coach Professional 13 December 2007

Media related to DAF DB250 at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to VDL DB250 at Wikimedia Commons

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