WATCH: Arriva unveils new, luxury buses between York and Selby

• Arriva's Sapphire buses bring extra luxury to public transport.

• Route 415 passengers will enjoy free high-speed Wi-Fi and USB charging.

• Leather-style seats offer extra comfort for travellers.

• Improved audio-visual announcements mean you'll never miss your stop!

• Extra provision for disabled people and parents with buggies.

Bus passengers travelling between York and Selby on the 415 service are enjoying an improved service following Arriva's introduction of its premium 'Sapphire' buses.

Arriva Yorkshire's Regional Managing Director, Jon Croxford explains what passengers in the York and Selby areas can expect from the improved service in this video...

Why has Arriva launched its Sapphire buses?

Arriva developed the concept based on what customers told them in extensive research including surveys, site visits and focus groups. Sapphire buses aim to improve perceptions of the bus, encourage non-users to give the bus a try and infrequent users to make more of their journeys on the bus.

Which route do Arriva's Sapphire buses operate on in North Yorkshire?

The Sapphire buses are being introduced on the 415 route which runs between York and Selby.

Arriva Yorkshire's Regional Managing Director, Jon Croxford says,

We're really excited by what we're doing with the 415 service between Selby and York.

It's a key service for us and we really want to invest more in the route to encourage more people to use it.

What features are on the Arriva Sapphire buses?

The upgraded buses offer extra luxury and comfort with leather-style seats, and high-tech additions including free 4G wi-fi and USB charging allowing you to keep your phone or tablet charged up while you browse on your travels.

The seats provide extra comfort with high backs, deeper bases and more space – in some areas of the buses the space normally taken by four seats has been given to three instead, providing more spacious places to sit.

All buses also feature CCTV for extra safety and security for passengers.

What disabled facilities are there on Arriva's Sapphire buses?

Every Arriva Sapphire bus has a dedicated space for a wheelchair. The buses also include audio-visual next-stop announcements, to ensure no passengers miss their stop, including those with visual or hearing impairments.

Does it cost more to travel on an Arriva Sapphire bus?

Despite the improvements for passengers on the 415 service, Arriva is keeping prices the same, so you can experience extra luxury and high-tech features for no extra cost.

MD, Jon Croxford reassures passengers:

I can absolutely assure you that while this is a premium route and a premium upgrade, there won't be premium pricing, so the pricing structure remains exactly as it currently is. And indeed, we only recently announced for the second year in a row that we'd frozen all fares on our mobile ticketing. So the 415 remains great value despite this big investment in improving the quality of the service.

Is there space on an Arriva Sapphire bus for a buggy or push-chair?

Every Arriva Sapphire bus includes dedicated space for a baby buggy.

How do I become a bus driver?

Arriva has opportunities available to people who want to work for them, including for bus drivers on the 415 route. You can get more information on Arriva jobs on their website.

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