(19 Feb 2016, 8:10 pm)X8X9X10 wrote Speaking of the X21/X22, is there a reason these aren't MAX services? It seems strange that most of the other intercity services out of Newcastle (to Blyth/Ashington (X20)/Alnwick/etc) are MAX while this service is Sapphire.
I get that the buses have power and next stop announcements which aren't on other Newcastle MAX services but it seems strange to distinguish one route. I could understand if it was the most frequent service to/from Newcastle but there are others as often as this one.
Yup, Arriva NE decided to Sapphire the X21/X22 as an upgrade to one of the busiest commuter services into Newcastle, as it is investment from outside of their own budget whilst Sapphire is/was a pilot project by Arriva UK and DB itself. MAX was designed later by ANE/Yorkshire together to improve longer distance services, and has been implemented on most inter urban services across the two regions now (still being done in Yorkshire) as a great way of growing usage.