Just thought about this......but why did Arriva specify the Dennis Trident instead of the DAF DB250 for regional ALX400 orders in 2000 including 7340-35 for the 602 out of Hexham?

I know Northumbria trialed the DAF DB250 Optare Spectra (as they already had Deltas) before choosing the Cummins engined Volvo Olympian Palatine II's.

Surely the DAF DB250 chassis for regionals would've been better than the Dennis Trident chassis given that Hexham's batch needed to be replaced by B10BLE's.

Ironically a year later despite the Lowlander bodywork, Arriva did switch to the DAF DB250 chassis for regional orders which included the Darlington batch for the 723.

(27 Sep 2026, 7:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote Just thought about this......but why did Arriva specify the Dennis Trident instead of the DAF DB250 for regional ALX400 orders in 2000 including 7340-35 for the 602 out of Hexham?

I know Northumbria trialed the DAF DB250 Optare Spectra (as they already had Deltas) before choosing the Cummins engined Volvo Olympian Palatine II's.

Surely the DAF DB250 chassis for regionals would've been better than the Dennis Trident chassis given that Hexham's batch needed to be replaced by B10BLE's.

Ironically a year later despite the Lowlander bodywork, Arriva did switch to the DAF DB250 chassis for regional orders which included the Darlington batch for the 723.

tbf, they just bought everything and anything around then. Don't think they really had any plan anywhere at the time. 

Probably just whatever was cheapest.

The DAF DB250 / Alexander ALX400 combination was mainly designed as a London Bus. Lower geared with a straight staircase, with S-reg and T-reg examples having a centre staircase, whilst V-reg onwards having the staircase behind the drivers cab. All bar 5 were ordered for routes operated by Arriva in London. The 5 that didn't go to Arriva was a single example new to Abus, Bristol and 4 examples to UK North which later operated for Stagecoach (which also meant it operated ALX400 bodied vehicles with all 3 chassis makes.) These 5 V-Regs were also London Spec vehicles albeit single door.

Ironically Arriva NE had operated all 3 types, including both versions of DAF DB250. Here are all the variants....
DAF DB250LF / Alexander ALX400 (London Spec - Centre Staircase) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/52890269686
DAF DB250LF / Alexander ALX400 (London Spec - Forward Staircase) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/52890456564
Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400 (Provincial Spec) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/51185724925
Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400 (Provincial Spec) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/51194200150
Volvo B7TL / ADL ALX400 (Provincial Spec) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/52826001995
Volvo B7TL / ADL ALX400 (London Spec - Forward Staircase) - https://flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/52826001275