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, with routes X10 and X11 from Newcastle to Blyth using refurbished double-deck vehicles. The brand has since additionally been rolled out by Arriva Buses Wales, Arriva Shires & Essex and Arriva Southern Counties, as well as Arriva Yorkshire, while Arriva North East has drastically increased the number of MAX branded routes within the region. Each new route is launched with Titan the Robot, to celebrate and create interest in each upgrade.
Routes
As at April 2019, there were 37 Arriva MAX routes.
308 - Newcastle to Blyth, following a change in vehicle allocation, the initial vehicles were transferred to Arriva Yorkshire, in return for unrefurbished Wright Gemini 2-bodied VDL DB300s which were later refurbished to the new standard Arriva livery and specification.
268 Wakefield to Bradford, Upgraded to Arriva Sapphire.
Vehicles
MAX branded vehicles have leather seats, free WiFi and a modified livery, some also include charging points, 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 but 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 further new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. Elsewhere, Arriva Shires & Essex have refurbished Mercedes-Benz Citaros while Arriva Buses Wales have refurbished Wright Pulsar bodied VDL SB200s Arriva Yorkshire upgraded 4 Volvo B7RLEWright Eclipse Urbans for the MAX 229 service between Leeds and Heckmondwike.
