Arriva_Sapphire

Arriva Sapphire

Arriva Sapphire

Brand of bus services


Arriva Sapphire is a luxury brand used by various Arriva bus subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.

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History

Arriva Sapphire logo used 2013–17
Arriva Sapphire logo used in 2017

In February 2013, Arriva UK Bus announced that it would launch a Luxury service under the Sapphire brand for its bus services in the United Kingdom.[1] It is similar to the Stagecoach Gold brand launched by Stagecoach Group in 2007.

Arriva initially launched the Sapphire brand on four pilot routes:[2]

In 2014, the brand was extended to 11 more routes with another six scheduled for conversion in late 2015.[7][8][9]

In 2017, Arriva Sapphire was rebranded with a new logo and livery, in line with the switchover to the new Arriva brand. In 2018, the Arriva Sapphire logo was updated again, to reflect the new brand.[10]

In 2019, Arriva Midlands routes 1, 2, 2E running between Walsall and Cannock/Huntington were downgraded to regular buses after six years of Sapphire. Further routes across the country have since been withdrawn or removed from the Sapphire brand.

In 2022, Arriva started to phase out the Sapphire brand nationally, with the majority of buses being repainted into the standard Arriva livery or replaced with new buses.

Routes

2013—17 Sapphire-liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro400 in October 2014
2013—17 Sapphire-liveried Wright StreetLite in August 2014
2017— Sapphire-liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC in January 2018
2017— Sapphire-liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro200 (with rebranded Arriva logo) in May 2018
2017— Sapphire-liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC (with rebranded Arriva logo) in July 2020

As of November 2022, there were 32 Arriva Sapphire routes.

Former services

More information Service no., Route start ...

Vehicles

Buses have leather seats, free WiFi, power ports, and a modified two tone blue livery. The initial pilot routes commenced with a mix of refurbished double deck buses and new Wright Pulsar bodied VDL SB200s.[1][15] Mostly since then, new buses have been purchased, primarily Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, Wright StreetLites and Wright StreetDecks.[9] A number of Wright Pulsar/Pulsar 2 vehicles have been refurbished to operate Sapphire routes.[16] In 2020 a selection of Optare Versas in Yorkshire were repainted into the new Arriva Sapphire livery.

See also


References

  1. "Arriva launches Sapphire upgrade". Bus and Coach Professional. Plum Publishing Ltd. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. "Where We Operate". Arriva Sapphire. Arriva. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  3. "Sapphire launched in north east". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 11 December 2013.
  4. "Arriva launches third Sapphire scheme". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 25 July 2013.
  5. "Where We Operate". Arriva Sapphire.
  6. "ADL in pole position as Arriva confirms 2015 orders". Bus and Coach Professional. Plum Publishing Ltd. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  7. "Double deckers on Arriva Sapphire route". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 22 April 2015.
  8. "Sparking in Leeds". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 21 April 2015.
  9. "Sapphire in Tamworth". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 16 October 2014.
  10. "Aylesbury service changes". arrivabus.co.uk. Arriva Buses UK. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  11. "Arriva North West & Wales – Initiatives for growth & quality". Bus & Coach Buyer. AT Graphics Ltd. 10 April 2014.

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