Why did EC repaint their 43s?

[alexl92]

Why did East Coast bother repainting all their class 43 power cars if they weren't gonna do the full sets?

I understand the idea of painting things into 'Undercoat Grey' for the sake of the next franchise holder, but frankly the sets with EC-liveried power cars and ex-Nat Ex Coaches look tacky and a bit of a mess. It's not exactly like they were a wild colour before so why not just leave the sets as they were with EC Branding on NatEx base colours? It seems like a waste of money with no obvious benefits, to me and it can't be great for the corporate image, not that they'll care any more.

 

[swt_passenger]

Power cars and coach sets could be on completely different maintenance cycles, if the power cars were due a repaint on an age basis anyway the Rosco would do them, irrespective of the requirement for the coaches.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

It would make sense if future East Coast repaints use Virgin colours.
I know it would save paint and time to rebrand the service before next year.

 

[Boothby97]

It would make sense if future East Coast repaints use Virgin colours.

I know it would save paint and time to rebrand the service before next year.

It may just be a case of applying the Virgin vinyls over the EC base grey when the time comes?

 

[alexl92]

It may just be a case of applying the Virgin vinyls over the EC base grey when the time comes?

That's precisely why EC chose that grey as a base colour.

 

[CosherB]

It may just be a case of applying the Virgin vinyls over the EC base grey when the time comes?

i can't imagine that changing the EC scheme with Virgin vinyls will be complicated ..... although do we know for sure that VTEC will mimic the colour scheme exactly for VTWC?

 

[387star]

some coaches are silver not grey to complicate matters

 

[Lrd]

That's precisely why EC chose that grey as a base colour.

Is it really? What makes you say that?

 

[Darandio]

It was specified when they took over on an interim basis, that the plain base colour applied is easily customisable for the future franchise.

I'd also imagine it came down to cost as well, having an identity to try and distance from the previous franchise, but also at the lowest price.

 

[Suraggu]

The EC Mk.4 Silver sets come refurbishment time in 2015 are likely to become grey. We are still unsure whether Refurbishment will be contracted out to a company or completed in house.
VTEC are like to use a variation of their Corporate colours for their partnership with Stagecoach. Stripey doors extremely unlikely but we await official confirmation from the new order.

 

[cjmillsnun]

It may just be a case of applying the Virgin vinyls over the EC base grey when the time comes?

That's precisely why EC chose that grey as a base colour.

Is it really? What makes you say that?

EC used grey deliberately as it was intended for it to be easy to use as a base coat for the new franchisee to apply their livery to it.