Arriva Max Explained

Arriva Max
Parent:Arriva
Founded:September 2014
Service Type:Premium bus
Routes:13 (October 2022)
Fleet:Mercedes-Benz Citaro
VDL DB300/Wright Gemini 2
Scania OmniCity
Alexander Dennis Enviro400
Wright StreetLite
Volvo B9TL
VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar
Operator:Arriva Buses Wales
Arriva North East
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Southern Counties
Arriva Yorkshire

Arriva Max is a premium brand used by various Arriva bus subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.

History

In September 2014, Arriva launched the Max brand for interurban express services. The first services were launched by Arriva North East, which is cited as the creator and home of the brand (alongside jointly managed Arriva Yorkshire), with routes X10 and X11 from Newcastle to Blyth using refurbished double-deck vehicles.[1] [2] [3]

The brand was additionally rolled out by Arriva Buses Wales, Arriva Shires & Essex and Arriva Southern Counties, all of which have since discontinued the brand. Arriva North East and Arriva Yorkshire increased the number of Max branded routes within their regions. Most of the new routes were launched with Titan the Robot, to celebrate and create interest in each upgrade.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

The Max brand has been scaled back significantly in recent years as part of the Arriva rebrand, however some routes were withdrawn or were upgraded with new standard or refurbished Arriva Sapphire buses.

Routes

According to the Arriva website and Google Maps, there are 13 remaining Arriva Max routes.

Arriva North East

Arriva Yorkshire

Arriva Wales

Former routes

Arriva Southern Counties

Arriva The Shires

Arriva North East

Arriva Yorkshire

Vehicles

Max branded vehicles have leather seats, free WiFi and a modified livery, some also include charging points (standard from early-2016), furthermore some buses also include air conditioning. Initially only refurbished vehicles were used with Arriva North East and Arriva Yorkshire opting for Wright Gemini 2 bodied VDL DB300s.

Since then, Arriva North East have also refurbished Scania OmniCitys and Alexander Dennis Enviro400s and more recently have purchased brand new stock in the form of further Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, Wright StreetLites and Volvo B9TLs. Meanwhile, Arriva Yorkshire has refurbished a mixture of Wright Gemini 2/VDL DB300s and Alexander Dennis Enviro400s as well as purchasing new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. Elsewhere, Arriva Herts & Essex have refurbished Mercedes-Benz Citaros while Arriva Buses Wales have refurbished Wright Pulsar bodied VDL SB200s.

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://cbwmagazine.com/arriva-goes-max/ Arriva goes Max
  2. https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/Latest/maximum-impact-launch-of-max/ Maximum Impact: Max comes to Northumberland
  3. http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/arriva-north-east-launches-first-max-route/ Arriva North East launches first MAX route
  4. http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/sapphire-deeside/ Sapphire on Deeside
  5. https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/about-us/max--new-inter-urban-express-services-from-arriva/ Max - new interurban express services from Arriva
  6. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/video-titan-the-robot-entertains-crowds-at-arriva-bus-route-event-1-7176759 Titan the robot entertains crowds at Arriva bus route event
  7. http://www.route-one.net/industry/arriva-max-brand-launches-in-leeds/ Arriva Max brand launches in Leeds
  8. http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/arriva-max-yorkshire/ More Arriva Max in Yorkshire
  9. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/12918523.Titan_takes_bus_travel_to_the_MAX/ Titan takes bus travel to the Max
  10. http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/arrivas-new-look-southend/ Arriva’s new look in Southend
  11. Web site: Arriva to withdraw Service 5. Leigh Times. 9 January 2017. 27 August 2016.
  12. http://www.essexhighways.org/uploads/files/Bus_Passenger_News_September_2016.pdf Bus Passenger News September/October 2016