Optare Spectra

Optare Spectra
Front view of another Wilts & Dorset Spectra.
Overview
Manufacturer	Optare
Body and chassis
Doors	1 or 2 doors
Floor type	Step entrance/Low floor
Chassis	DAF/VDL DB250
Powertrain
Engine	DAF
Dimensions
Length	10.5m, 11m
Width	2.9m
Chronology

Launched in 1991, the Optare Spectra is a double-decker bus body built on the DAF (now VDL) DB250 chassis. The vehicle was developed as a joint project between Optare and DAF; it was based on the designs of the successful MCW Metrobus which Optare had purchased, but they are by no means a restlyed Metrobus. With the launch of the DB250LF chassis sometime after production commenced, the Spectra was built to low-floor specification, and was one of the first low-floor double-decker buses available in the United Kingdom. The design is notable for the exclusion of a lower deck rear window, a practice that has become more commonplace. The bus typically seated 47 on the upper deck and 28 on the lower deck in single-door format.

A large batch was supplied to Reading Buses, including the first production model (fleet number 701), all of which have now been sold.

London Central also received a batch of 24 of these, with a single door arrangement. East London received one example which had a dual door layout.

The first completed low-floor Spectra was received by National Express in January 1998, R1 NEG, body Number 8620. However, the first low floor example of the Optare Spectra to enter service was with Peters, Bristol, more commonly known as Abus, at 0650 on Wednesday 4 February 1998. This saw R222 AJP becoming the first low floor fully accessible double deck bus to enter service in Great Britain. It was only by chance that Peters found out that West Midlands were planning to launch their Spectra at midday the following day, when he went to pick up the Spectra from Arriva Bus & Coach, allowing it to be prepared and be ready for service the following morning. The bus was destroyed by fire in 2015.