VDL SB120 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | DAF/VDL |
Production | Eindhoven, Netherlands |
Assembly | 1999 - |
Body and chassis | |
Doors | 1-2 |
Floor type | Low floor |
Related | VDL SB200 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Cummins B Series/ISBe |
Dimensions | |
Length | 9.5 to 10.8 metres |
Width | 2.5 metres |
Height | 3.0 metres |
Chronology | |
Successor | VDL SB180 |
The VDL SB120 (previously known as the DAF SB120) was a low floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus & Coach (formerly DAF Bus International) of the Netherlands primarily for the United Kingdom market.
The SB120 was similar to its major competitor, the Dennis Dart SLF. Powered by a Cummins B series 6-cylinder Euro II engine (later Cummins ISBe 4-cylinder Euro III engine), the SB120 was available in lengths from 8.5 to 10.8 metres. It was initially only available with the Wright Cadet body, but from February 2006, the Plaxton Centro body was also offered. [1] [2]
Unlike the larger VDL SB200, the SB120 found a sizeable market, especially with Arriva (VDL importer in the UK) in both its UK (377) and the Netherlands operations. Other sizeable customers included Warrington Borough Transport (48), East Thames Buses (37) and Bus Éireann (35). [3] The SB120 sold very well in VDL's home market, the Netherlands mainly using VDL Berkhof type Ambassador bodywork.
The SB120 was also sold in the United Kingdom by Volvo with the Wright Cadet body. This version, however, was sold as the Merit and did not carry either Wrightbus, VDL or Volvo branding. This version was sold to several operators including Yellow Buses, Bournemouth. However, with the change to Euro IV emissions from October 2006, Volvo and VDL ended this arrangement.
The SB120 was also sold for use in the Netherlands. In 2002, eight SB120 with Wright Cadet dual door bodywork were delivered to Arriva in the Netherlands for citybus service in Leeuwarden.
The SB120 chassis was also adopted by Wrightbus for the development of its hybrid-powered midibus, Wright Electrocity. [4] The SB120 was superseded by the VDL SB180.
The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo from 2002 until 2018. It superseded the Volvo Super Olympian and the Volvo B7TL. The 2-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B5TL in 2014 and the 3-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B8L in 2018.
Wrightbus is a Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer and a pioneer of the low-floor bus. The company was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and was later run by his son William Wright, until it was acquired in 2019 by British businessman Jo Bamford.
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VDL Bus & Coach is a Netherlands based bus manufacturer. It is an amalgamation of several bus building companies within the VDL Groep. VDL Bus & Coach has manufacturing plants in Belgium and the Netherlands. By 2018 VDL Bus & Coach sold 500 electric buses.
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The Wright Electrocity was a type of hybrid electric bus built by Wrightbus between 2002 and 2013. The Electrocity was based on DAF/VDL SB120 chassis for most of these buses, except for a single Dennis Dart SLF prototype.
The Wright Pulsar was a single-decker bus body built on the VDL SB200 single-decker bus chassis by Wrightbus between 2006 and 2014.
The Wright Cadet was a low floor midibus body built on the DAF/VDL SB120 chassis by Wrightbus between 2000 and 2008. It was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. Of the 681 produced, 366 were for Arriva subsidiaries including eight for its Netherlands subsidiary. Bus Éireann purchased 35.
The Plaxton Centro was a low entry single-decker bus bodywork designed by Bluebird Vehicles and manufactured by Plaxton.
The Wright Commander was a low-floor single-decker bus body built on the DAF/VDL SB200 chassis by Wrightbus between 2002 and 2007.
Arriva North West is a major bus operator running services in North West England in the Merseyside area. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus.
Arriva Buses Wales is a bus operator providing services in northern Wales and Chester in northern England. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus.
The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus between 2009 and 2013. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008. It was constructed as a semi-integral vehicle, with chassis modules provided by VDL. The bodywork utilised some lighter materials so that the vehicle was lighter than the Eclipse Gemini and Pulsar Gemini bodied buses. It was available in two versions; the Gemini 2 DL diesel-powered version, and the Gemini 2 HEV diesel-electric hybrid version.
The Berkhof Ambassador is a low-floor city bus produced by the Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Berkhof between 2001 and 2011 when it was replaced by the VDL Citea. The section between the front and rear door are at the same height. The seats at the very rear are a bit higher, and can be reached by using stairs.
The Wright StreetLite is a low-floor midibus introduced by Wrightbus in 2010. It was originally available in only one body style before the door forward and StreetLite Max variants were introduced in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Production of all variants of the StreetLite was briefly suspended due to Wrightbus entering administration in September 2019.
Media related to VDL SB120 at Wikimedia Commons