(05 Mar 2015, 5:12 pm)Dan wrote Don't think so. Believe I read / was told that the two Volvo B7TLs will merely be repainted and fitted with Wi-Fi, retaining their standard fabric moquette.
Begs the question: why have a brand if you're not going to standardise it? The exact same has happened with "Sapphire"; whilst the specification is similar, each and every single "Sapphire" branded vehicle is not the same up and down the country. Some have white destinations, others don't. Some have 2+1 seating to allow more leg-room, others don't. The list goes on - and now the same is happening with "MAX".
The Lowlanders are great and have an abundance of power. Although the Volvo B7TLs performed well, better buses are required as the B7TLs fall down the hills when they have to come to a complete halt to get back into first gear. A 57-reg Lowlander should have at least been trialled - tachographs aren't required when the peak season timetable comes into fruition, so why not? The only logical explanation I can come up with is that it saves Arriva a job: drivers and engineers don't have to familiarise themselves with a Lowlander for a few months during the peak season operation of the X93.
I automatically assumed they'd be re trimmed with e-leather with the X93 being a MAX service. Bit crap having some buses with e-leather and others with fabric mind.
Also bad having no spares as advertising a service with free WiFi then having a Tesma turn up without WiFi and the worst seats ever is pretty terrible and may put people off.