Leyland-DAB articulated bus | |
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![]() Leyland-DAB in Copenhagen in 1986 | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Leyland/Danish Automobile Building |
Body and chassis | |
Doors | 1-3 |
Floor type | Step entrance |
The Leyland-DAB articulated bus was an articulated bus manufactured by Leyland-DAB in Denmark. The Leyland-DAB artic found customers in Denmark, and was the first modern style articulated bus in the United Kingdom, albeit with limited repeat orders. [1]
Leyland, being a mainly British manufacturer, also had an overseas manufacturing interest in the Danish manufacturer Danish Automobile Building (DAB) since 1953, which used a number of Leyland parts in its own bus models. As a continental manufacturer, it had developed its own articulated bus model as an alternative to Volvo's articulated chassis. These were built with two body designs.
The first models of 1979 were based on the Leyland National, but were powered by a Saurer 240 bhp underfloor engine and Allison fully-automatic transmission instead of the Leyland components. [2] Other parts like the axles and the steering mechanism were also from Leyland.
Four of these buses saw extended trials in the United Kingdom with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, (SYPTE) and were demonstrated with other UK operators, with seven purchased by British Airways. [3] [4] [5]
Later deliveries from 1985 employed all Leyland components again, but with DAB designed bodies. This bus saw use in Denmark. [6] In the UK, SYPTE bought 13 in 1985. [5] [7]
In 1980, Australian operator Darwin Bus Service had a Leyland-DAB bodied by Pressed Metal Corporation South Australia. [8]
British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd (BLMC), following the merger of Leyland Motors and British Motor Holdings. It was partly nationalised in 1975, when the UK government created a holding company called British Leyland, later renamed BL in 1978. It incorporated much of the British-owned motor vehicle industry, which in 1968 had a 40 percent share of the UK car market, with its history going back to 1895.
Leyland Motors Limited was a British vehicle manufacturer of lorries, buses and trolleybuses. The company diversified into car manufacturing with its acquisitions of Triumph and Rover in 1960 and 1967, respectively. It gave its name to the British Leyland Motor Corporation, formed when it merged with British Motor Holdings in 1968, to become British Leyland after being nationalised. British Leyland later changed its name to simply BL, then in 1986 to Rover Group.
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Buses play a major role in the public transport of the United Kingdom, as well as seeing extensive private use. While rail transport has increased over the past twenty years due to road congestion, the same does not apply to buses, which have generally been used less, apart from in London where their use has increased significantly. Bus transport is heavily subsidised, with subsidy accounting for around 45 per cent of operator revenue, especially in London.
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Media related to Leyland-DAB articulated bus at Wikimedia Commons