DAF SB220

DAF SB220 (Walter Alexander)
Manufacturer	DAF Bus International
Bodywork	Walter Alexander Setanta
Years in operation	1995 – 2016
Operators	SMRT Buses
Technical Data
Length	12 metre
Engine	DAF LT 160L
Transmission	Voith DIWA 851.2
Accessibility	High Floor
Emission Standard	Euro I

The DAF SB220 is a rear-engined, single-deck transit bus chassis built by Netherlands-based bus builder DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s, now known as VDL Bus Chassis. Like other DAF buses, the chassis was manufactured in the Netherlands, and available in high-floor and low-entry versions.

Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) acquired 84 of such buses between 1990 and 1997 in two batches. Part of the first batch of 34 buses were diverted to City Shuttle Service (CSS), while the second batch of 50 buses continued to be operated by SMRT Buses, the successor of TIBS.

The DAF SB220 was fully retired by 1 December 2016.

Technical Information:

The DAF SB220 (Single-deck Bus 220-horsepower) was a bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International. Aside from the domestic market in the Netherlands, units entered service in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Romania and Singapore in a variety of bodyworks. The Optare Delta is an example of a bodywork type created for the DAF SB220 chassis.

The bus was available in 11.3-metre and 12.0-metre lengths, and in ZF or Voith gearbox options. CNG-powered units were also available.

The chassis has been superseded by the DAF SB200 and SB250, both of which continue to be in production under the VDL brand name.

TIBS DAF SB220 – First Batch

Between 1990 and 1992, Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) purchased 34 units of the DAF SB220, right after the registration of the Hino HT238Ks and Nissan Diesel U31SCN. They were bodied by Hispano Carrocera and registered between TIB391D – TIB424T.

The first 14 units, TIB391D – TIB404B, were registered in 1990. The next 20 units, TIB405Z – TIB424T, were registered in 1992 and later re-allocated to City Shuttle Service (CSS) around Year 1997, bearing the registration numbers CSS270B – CSS289Z.

Technical Specifications:

Additional Specifications:

The introduction of the DAF SB220 marked the first batch of European buses to be brought in by TIBS, which previously had a fully-Japanese fleet with various models of Hino and Nissan Diesels. Entering service in the 1990s, it represented a new era of TIBS buses to hit the roads.

Bodywork from Spanish bus builder Hispano Carrocera S.A. proved to be successful, and they would be the bodywork of choice for TIBS, fitted on the future Mercedes-Benz O405s and O405Gs.

Another first for TIBS was the use of the Electronic Display Signage (EDS) supplied by BKB Electronica, of the flip-dot design. The EDS eventually became a standard feature of all subsequent orders of TIBS buses. It wasn’t until over 10 years later, in 2001, that SBS Transit (formerly SBS) would fit EDS units to their new batch of Dennis Tridents.

The Hispano bodied SB220LTs were first deployed on TIBS’s then-new semi-express routes; 950, 951 and 952 which connected Woodlands New Town with Shenton Way, Boon Lay and Marina Centre respectively.

The bus has a licensed carrying capacity for 68 passengers, comprising 45 seated and 23 standing passengers.

City Shuttle Service and Retirement

• TIB391D – TIB404B: Some units sold to New Zealand
• TIB405Z – TIB424T: Re-registered as CSS buses, operating till end-of-lifespan in 2004.

In 1997, TIBS sold some of its 1990-registered DAF SB220 buses to Ritchies Transport Holdings and Bayes Coachlines of New Zealand, where they continued operating in their largely original condition.

That same year, 20 DAF SB220s were transferred to subsidiary City Shuttle Service (CSS) as part of a fleet upgrading programme. City Shuttle Service previously only operated on 25-seater midi-buses. TIB405Z – TIB424T were re-registered as CSS270B – CSS0289Z and repainted with the CSS livery, where they spent the remaining of their lifespan before being scrapped in 2004.

TIBS DAF SB220 – Second Batch

Between 1995 and 1997, Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) purchased a second batch of 50 DAF SB220 buses, right after the registration of the Scania L113CRL. They were bodied by Walter Alexander Setanta and registered between Oct 1995 and Dec 1997 as TIB675K – TIB724C.

Technical Specifications:

Additional Specifications:

These DAF SB220 buses were the second batch of TIBS buses bodied by UK-based coachbuilder Walter Alexander after the Scania L113CRLs, with a unique three-piece slanted windscreen design giving it an sloped appearance. Like the previous batch of Mercedes-Benz O405s and Scania L113CRLs, these batch also debuted with Electronic Display Signages (EDSes) from LAWO, commonly known as the green flip-dot, which were installed on the front and side of the bus.

The buses were fully based in SMRT Buses Kranji Depot. The buses were initially deployed on Services 160, 169, 176, 181, 187, 852. After the year 2005, the buses were commonly deployed on bus services 172, 925, 941, 945, 947, 970, 975 & 985.

Additional Specifications:

The bus has a licensed carrying capacity for 84 passengers, comprising 41 seated and 43 standing passengers.

Under SMRT Buses, some of the DAF SB220s underwent mid-life refurbishments to extend their lifespan by two years. TIB707C was the first to undergo refurbishment, with the original green panels repainted to cream-white for a fresh new look, and original green fabric seat covers replaced with blue and orange ones. Four seats were removed for a standee area in front of the exit door, and its EDS was upgraded to a Mobitec MobiLED.

33 other buses were refurbished with a different color scheme for seat covers – red, blue and purple, which were identical to those used on the OC500LEs. This color scheme was eventually standardized across all refurbished buses and newly purchased buses.

Most refurbished DAFs were equipped with the Mobitec MobiLED EDS unit, but some were given a LAWO BENEFIT EDS unit instead. A minority retained their original LAWO green flip-dot EDS units.

TIB700X has its original front replaced with a Hispano front from a Mercedes-Benz O405 after an accident in 2002.

This batch of buses commenced retirement in 2013, and was fully retired at the end of 2016.

Detailed Specifications:

Gallery

References:

• DAF SB220 – Wikipedia
• DAF SB220 – SGBuses

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