File:1995 DAF DB250-Northern Counties Palatine II.jpg

English: 1995 DAF DB250 chassis with Northern Counties Palatine II body and DAF ATi RS 8.6 litre 6-cylinder diesel engine at the Bristol Bus Show, Brislington, 28 July 2024. Registration No.M645RCP, in ABus livery. She was delivered to ABus in 1995 who in 1998 sold it to Wilts & Dorset (Fleet No.3157) but it returned to ABus in 2013.

Introduced in 1991, the DB250 initially was fitted only with the Optare Spectra body but from 1994 the Northern Counties Palatine II was an option too. Both body types had step entrances with one or two doors.

In 1998 a low floor version, the DB250LF, was introduced, again at first only with the Optare Spectra body but eventually other manufacturer’s bodies were fitted – the Alexander ALX400, Plaxton President, East Lancs Lowlander and Wright Pulsar Gemini. The DB 250LF was the first low floor double decker to enter service in the UK. Production ended in 2007.

The Northern Counties Palatine I (originally named Countybus until 1993) was a step-entrance 2-axled (3-axled for export versions) body produced in 1988-98 in Wigan. It was mainly used on the Leyland/Volvo Olympian chassis but also on the DAF DB250, Dennis Arrow, Dennis Dominator, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania N113DRB. Plaxton bought Northern Counties in 1995 and discontinued the Palatine in 1999 in favour of the low floor Plaxton President.

The Northern Counties Palatine II was launched in 1993 as a much revised design although the Palatine I was retained in production as a low cost alternative. The Palatine II was in production until 1999. It was fitted on the Olympian, Arrow and DB 250 chassis. The 3-axled version was for exports only, sometimes badged as a Plaxton.