(20 Apr 2021, 7:35 pm)Dan wrote Go North East has never created an 'X-lines interior' - so why don't the 11-year old Citaros you refer to fit the bill? All Go North East has said about the specification of X-lines is that buses would be fitted with high-back seats, Wi-Fi, USB charging points and next stop announcements, which the Citaros are.
Clearly a specification has been devised on newer buses and where dedicated refurbishments have taken place (Civic V3 seats with cream headrests, or ADL Smart Seats where they can be fitted), but it has never been explicitly stated that they would be a certain colour or type otherwise.
Absolutely no bias at all here, but if you've ever travelled on the Volvo B9s on service X93, you'll know those seats are absolutely atrocious for a long-distance journey. This would have been an ideal opportunity to replace the seats with something more appropriate (even a direct swap between the older MAX-specification Volvo B7s at Durham, where shorter distance journeys are made) and comfortable for its passengers. It is frankly bizarre that they'd replace the MAX logo with a Sapphire one, especially the now-defunct logo, at that.
Wasn't really a dig at GNE was more just about standard wise they're not that bad in terms of interior. I haven't been on them so can't comment on the seats though. The head rests is a bit weird but it's better than having Sapphire buses on the outside with Max interior inside I suppose and least they've fitted the USB chargers on a route which would benefit from them.
Was more it would be a waste of money giving them a full refurb when there's stuff like 1407/1409 running around in the grim hybrid Arriva 1999/2005 interior with Durham's good maintenance of burnt seatbacks running around on Blyth MAX routes or the frequenta Pulsars running on the Sapphire X3/X4 daily with none of the cons and desperate for a refurb. Rather see those refurbished first before doing 7401-06 again. The 7 and 17/17A in Stockton also with the unrefurbished 09/10 plates are other core routes which are desperate for some investment aswell imo and have potential for growth if done right.