Optare Spectra

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Offside view of an Optare Spectra operated by Wilts & Dorset, on "The Stonehenge Tour". The Spectra was a popular type for Wilts, with many examples of both the high and low floors still operated

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; based on the designs of the successful MCW Metrobus which Optare had purchased. 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 deckers 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, UK, including the first production model (fleet number 701); most are still in operation with Reading Buses today. Travel West Midlands also took a batch of 22 Spectras into its fleet in the late 90's. The majority of them went onto the route 50 with route branding, however they are now used on Birmingham Central routes in the Midlands. Spectra 4014 was destroyed in a fire in Kings Heath.

Production of the Optare Spectra ended when the last 2 rolled off the line in late 2005.

[edit] Picture gallery

Front view of another Wilts and Dorset Spectra.

Side view of an Optare Spectra on hire to Wiltax.

[edit] See also