Stagecoach Gold/Arriva Sapphire?

[Bletchleyite]

Went past a 321 yesterday that was a Sapphire with all the branding on the front, but was a Citaro according to the rear.

A Citaro is a model of Mercedes bus, you can have a wide variety of interior specs on one.

Neil

 

[AM9]

A Citaro is a model of Mercedes bus, you can have a wide variety of interior specs on one.

Neil

OK thanks. So it looks like Arriva have had the Citaros that previously ran the route, upgraded to Sapphire spec. to run alonside the Wright's StreetLite Maxs. Must try them out sometime.

 

[Y961 XBU]

one thing i dont understand is why they are getting Brand New Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s for this Sapphire 10, currently the service is mainly run by V and X reg Pointer 2 Darts that yes are starting to age however cope with the loadings with no problems, Deckers are not needed for this Service

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

one thing i dont understand is why they are getting Brand New Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s for this Sapphire 10, currently the service is mainly run by V and X reg Pointer 2 Darts that yes are starting to age however cope with the loadings with no problems, Deckers are not needed for this Service

Perhaps the rationale is that investing in quality will generate organic growth and hence justifying deckers? It is a route that has been neglected.

There are other instances where they've had to take that approach. Chester to Wrexham Sapphire used to be Pulsars and was Darts before that. Gold Swindon to Oxford was e300s before Gold e400s arrived.

 

[Kuyoyo]

Perhaps the rationale is that investing in quality will generate organic growth and hence justifying deckers? It is a route that has been neglected.

There are other instances where they've had to take that approach. Chester to Wrexham Sapphire used to be Pulsars and was Darts before that. Gold Swindon to Oxford was e300s before Gold e400s arrived.

Also to add - Arriva North East are now due 5 new E400 sometime in the new year for Darlington and Durham depots (split not known) to replace an equal number of Pulsars on the busy workings on the 7. So in the space of 18 months, it will have gone from a mixute of Darts to Pulsars to a mix of Pulsars and E400s.

The Pulsars displaced from Darlington will be heading to Durham to join 2 further new E400s and 6 new Streetlites to covert the 6 (Durham - West Auckland or Cockfield) to Sapphire.

Going MAX in the North East next year are (confirmed to be):
X1 Darlington to Crook or Tow Law
X1/X2 Middlesbrough-Durham-Newcastle (X1 is renumbered X12 in January to avoid confusion with the Darlington X1 once both are revamped)
X93 Middlesbrough to Whitby and Scarborough

X1 and X93 are using new buses (Wright StreetLites for X1, 6 Volvo B9TLs on X93). The X12/X2 will be using refurbished buses which will be a mix of Pulsars and Geminis. Blyth's remaining express services are also rumoured to be getting upgraded to MAX while there's plans for a second Sapphire service upgrade during 2015.

 

[Andyh82]

Arriva Buses Wales Facebook page have confirmed that Service 10 Chester - Connah's Quay is to be upgraded to Sapphire standard in early 2015

I'm surprised by that as I didn't think it was a major service, unlike the 1, 11, 12 etc. it's a fairly local link rather than a major interurban service.

It will be a major step change as the 10 is currently run by the oldest vehicles in the fleet.

I'm not sure what Max is supposed to be about, it dilutes Sapphire in my opinion, particularly in Rhyl where you've got Sapphire on the 12, Cymru Coastliner with leather seats on the 11 and now Max on the 51.

 

[Y961 XBU]

I'm surprised by that as I didn't think it was a major service, unlike the 1, 11, 12 etc. it's a fairly local link rather than a major interurban service.

It will be a major step change as the 10 is currently run by the oldest vehicles in the fleet.

I'm not sure what Max is supposed to be about, it dilutes Sapphire in my opinion, particularly in Rhyl where you've got Sapphire on the 12, Cymru Coastliner with leather seats on the 11 and now Max on the 51.

I cant see where such growth would come from to make the service require Deckers, in fact i cant see why this Service requires Sapphire Treatment as its really just a local Service

In fact i would go the extra mile to say Sapphire is a joke for the following reasons:

1 Wrexham - Chester Service

The reliability of the Service is a joke to the point where Sapphire Buses have had to be restricted to Locals as the Depot are afraid they are going to break down! On a semi Regular occasion either the Plug Sockets or/ and the WI-FI dont work and apart from School letting out time there is no need for Deckers on this service either, Pulsars (despite how much i hate them) would of been a much suitable option.

575 Bolton - Wigan and 362 Wigan - Chorley

These Services interwork so best to put them under 1 umbrella, These Services aint as bad as the 1 however still a bit of a joke, not a day goes by where they have to put a Pulsar thats not sapphire on the Sapphire Service, i also find it a joke how when theres a couple of Hybrids VOR they put a Sapphire Pulsar on the 10 (Manchester - Brookhouse) and i also find it a huge joke how every Sunday Daytime they put Sapphire Buses on the TFGM Tendered 510 Bolton - Bury when really it requires a Mini Bus. Bolton Depot have both MPD's and Optare Solo's and most of them are not needed on a Sunday so their not short on Mini Buses

Rant over :P

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I cant see where such growth would come from to make the service require Deckers, in fact i cant see why this Service requires Sapphire Treatment as its really just a local Service

Sapphire is NOT just confined for inter-urban services. It is also for local services - Derby to Sinfin is one, as is Dartford's 480/490. The premise for Sapphire is where they believe that there is latent demand that can be exploited or to encourage car drivers to get out of their cars.

MAX is for inter-urban services and is similar but without all the bells and whistles of Sapphire (charging points etc). Where it gets confusing is with the Cymru Coastliner which is really just MAX under another name.

I thought the same with the 7 in County Durham, wondering where the new passengers would come from but, you know what, they did! Without any prompting, my Mum was singing the praise of Sapphire on that route, and she's a real customer. That's who Arriva need to please, not enthusiasts