(15 Mar 2020, 8:00 am)Rob44 wrote i was waiting to get on 8304 yesterday ( ticket machine broke and needed restarting) and i notice on the doors it had " gold standard"? ive used the search function and it doesn't look like the writing was there when it was a Labton worm?  Also notice the front bumper is connected to the bus with a 1 inch bit of metal.

Gold standard was the equivalent of X-Lines, maybe without the express focus. Drivers on Gold Standard were expected to provide an even higher standard of customer service than "normal". From what I've been told (it was before my time) stop at every stop if there were possible passengers waiting, enquiring if they wish to travel on this service, ensuring that everyone had sat down before pulling away etc.