page_title: VDL DB250
section_title: DB250LF
hierarchical_section_title: VDL DB250 / DB250LF
caption_attribution_description: English: R222AJP is an Optare Spectra bus, the first low-floor double decker to enter service in the United Kingdom. This was in 1998 when it worked the Abus route A39 between Bristol and Keynsham. It is seen here in 2012 at a locl bus rally.
context_page_description: The VDL DB250 is a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis that was manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.
context_section_description: 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.
  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.
  Arriva London purchased 632 between 1998 and 2005 with Alexander ALX400 (389), Plaxton President (110) and Wright Pulsar Gemini (133) bodywork. 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).
  The DB250LF chassis was also adopted by Wrightbus for the development of its hybrid-powered double-decker bus, the Wright Pulsar Gemini HEV.
  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.
caption: Abus Optare Spectra bodied DB250LF that was the first low floor double-decker bus to enter service in the United Kingdom
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