Virgin Trains (VTWC) new livery being introduced

[Cantab26]

Info:

My first thought on reading this was not so much 'flowing wind' as 'hot air'.

 

[E_Reeves]

This livery definitely makes these units look a little more modern. I bet the numbers will still be a nightmare to get.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Our new livery approach to both East Coast and West Coast is named ‘flowing silk’. It’s a simple concept but with very effective, unique results. Inspired partly by design and brand from across the Virgin Group, it wraps a literal ‘Virgin’ red ribbon in and around our trains, owning them*, holding them, making them truly ours**.

* we do not own them

** when we say "truly" ours, we mean in the sense of "actually they belong to Angel Trains"

 

[Mike Machin]

As a professional graphic designer, I have to say this revision looks very much more contemporary - the previous livery was brilliant when it was introduced, but looks incredibly dated now. As we approach the third decade of the 21st Century, less is definitely more!

 

[CosherB]

The 390s might end up looking like this one day, with a bit of tinkering .....

Virgin Azuma Not mine.

 

[urpert]

I thought I wouldn't like it, but actually I do - it has a European "high speed" look about it for some reason, possibly because it's a bit like the AVE or TGV Lyria livery.

Odd, as normally I find liveries without a window band look unfinished.

That "info" is a right load of Virgin brand-ese waffle, though, isn't it?

I bet the LM being stationary on the simulation was deliberate

It does need the yellow stripe for 1st adding, though.

I genuinely don’t understand why they would drop the window band. There’s nothing Virgin specific about it and it does a good job of disguising the small windows.

 

[MCR247]

My only issue with it is they shouldn't have had the 'corner' of the red where there is actually a window

 

[bnsf734]

Looks good, and will be easy to adapt for a new operator, assuming the red "silk" is a vinyl. The door colours look similar to the existing newish colour of dark grey, changed from the 45 degree white stripes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My only issue with it is they shouldn't have had the 'corner' of the red where there is actually a window

As long as they don't even think about putting contravision on that window, as that's my favourite seat (at both ends) and I would like to have a window view from it.

 

[xc170]

Would look better if the red vinyl reached further back, half way along the second car would be better.

 

[goblinuser]

One extreme to the other - firstly we get overly vibrant liveries then everything is literally painted grey.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I don't think this livery really suits the pendolinos. I like the idea of a common livery and I think most of us always knew one of the liveries (WC or EC) would be adopted across both franchises. The red ends look good almost looks like an Azuma which I'm sure is what they were going for.

If they would have followed through with the Azuma look with an extension of the ribbon all the way along the body and then adding a black window outline, I think this could have been a lot better.

it wraps a literal ‘Virgin’ red ribbon in and around our trains, owning them, holding them, making them truly ours.

There's only one issue with this statement.. Angel Trains.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[CosherB]

If they would have followed through with the Azuma look with an extension of the ribbon all the way along the body and then adding a black window outline, I think this could have been a lot better.

You've completely missed the point (a) why these trains are being painted, and (b) why the livery is simplistic.

 

[XCTurbostar]

You've completely missed the point (a) why these trains are being painted, and (b) why the livery is simplistic.

They're all stickers at the end of the day on both the Azuma and this new Pendolino livery so I'm not seeing your point?

Thanks,
Ross

 

[sprinterguy]

As long as they don't even think about putting contravision on that window, as that's my favourite seat (at both ends) and I would like to have a window view from it.

You normally sit in the kitchen at the first class end?

My first thought on reading this was not so much 'flowing wind' as 'hot air'.

Yes, there’s so much promotional wibble in that release isn’t there? Even disregarding the self congratulatory tone and ludicrous wind metaphors, I rather feel that they’ve even managed to completely miss the point regarding how the livery will be perceived:

it wraps a literal ‘Virgin’ red ribbon in and around our trains, owning them, holding them, making them truly ours.

Given that it only covers the cab ends, it doesn’t wrap around the trains at all, which is perhaps a more accurate interpretation given that, as noted by others, Virgin don’t own the trains in the first place!

The static nature of a train, as most customers see it on a station, mean they can feel quite lifeless, very mechanical and devoid of personality

Yes, the unrelieved wall of pale grey that will be the sight that greets the majority of passengers (rather than “customers”) at a station will really add “personality”.

As a professional graphic designer, I have to say this revision looks very much more contemporary - the previous livery was brilliant when it was introduced, but looks incredibly dated now. As we approach the third decade of the 21st Century, less is definitely more!

Yeah, mid-nineties PC monitor drab grey is such a modern look. Should look particularly fetching with a light coating of brake block dust (Alstom’s maintenance regime usually manages to keep the Pendos looking clean, but it inevitably seems to suffer a bit during the winter months).

 

[thetangoman]

I'll ask here as my thread was closed

I do not think this is the "NEW" Virgin Livery as stated by XCTurbostar in my original thread.

This weeks RAIL Magazine has stated in the Livery Change section that a Class 390 has changed Livery from Virgin to West Coast Franchise Blank. Anyone know what this looks like or has it just been de-branded

Many Thanks

Russell

 

[CosherB]

I'll ask here as my thread was closed

I do not think this is the "NEW" Virgin Livery as stated by XCTurbostar in my original thread.

This weeks RAIL Magazine has stated in the Livery Change section that a Class 390 has changed Livery from Virgin to West Coast Franchise Blank. Anyone know what this looks like or has it just been de-branded

Many Thanks

Russell

Perhaps you should spend a little time to actually read the threads on here. You may actually find what you are looking for on here.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I'll ask here as my thread was closed

I do not think this is the "NEW" Virgin Livery as stated by XCTurbostar in my original thread.

This weeks RAIL Magazine has stated in the Livery Change section that a Class 390 has changed Livery from Virgin to West Coast Franchise Blank. Anyone know what this looks like or has it just been de-branded

Many Thanks

Russell

Out of curiosity, what is the number of the 390? I know in the rail magazine, it does state the planned order of repaints. Any chance you could post that here?

I've also notice that the PDF document with the 'new' livery on it is titled VT_Pendo_interimlivery_silklivery.pdf

Thanks,
Ross

 

[Darandio]

I'll ask here as my thread was closed

I do not think this is the "NEW" Virgin Livery as stated by XCTurbostar in my original thread.

Because it was a duplicate thread and it is the livery, at least an interim version anyway. It's basically debranded with a vinyl.

 

[bnsf734]

I have the copy of Rail here.

Repaint order and due in date (the previous pendo is due out on the same day) is:

390 010 being done - due out September 12 2017
390 006 due in September 12
390 011 October 10
390 013 October 31
390 016 November 14
390 020 November 28
390 009 December 12 (this train is due out January 9 2018, when the next train is due in. Its having an extended Xmas holiday stay)

I have also seen the reference in the Livery changes table for 390 010 to "West Coast Franchise Blank" but as the train isn't due out for 2 weeks perhaps this entry is a bit premature!

 

[Doctor Fegg]

It looks like a hawk in flight to me, with the cab side window as the eye. Or am I seeing things?

 

[thetangoman]

Out of curiosity, what is the number of the 390? I know in the rail magazine, it does state the planned order of repaints. Any chance you could post that here?

I've also notice that the PDF document with the 'new' livery on it is titled VT_Pendo_interimlivery_silklivery.pdf

Thanks,
Ross

Hi, it's 390010

Many Thanks
Russell

 

[Mollman]

The 390s might end up looking like this one day, with a bit of tinkering .....

Virgin Azuma Not mine.

I was hoping the Azuma was an interim livery and the production units will have a lot less white, but we shall wait and see.

 

[CosherB]

I was hoping the Azuma was an interim livery and the production units will have a lot less white, but we shall wait and see.

I think it is an interim Azuma livery - rumours abound that they are going to get an all red front. At least the Pendolinos will have to have a splash of yellow on the front!

 

[dp21]

I think it is an interim Azuma livery - rumours abound that they are going to get an all red front. At least the Pendolinos will have to have a splash of yellow on the front!

Correct. The fellow who designed that stated as much. They're still finalising the finished "production" design.

 

[ash39]

Correct. The fellow who designed that stated as much. They're still finalising the finished "production" design.

That was my understanding too. Although having seen the new Pendo livery in this thread, I suspect the final Azuma livery will be an evolution rather than revolution of the launch livery

 

[jon0844]

The 390s might end up looking like this one day, with a bit of tinkering .....

Virgin Azuma Not mine.

Looks far better to have the 'ribbon' or whatever it is flowing around the whole train, not just the ends. As has been said earlier, you wouldn't really see this when waiting on the platform.

If designed well, you could have the Virgin logo repeated on each coach within the red, making it very easy to identify the brand.

 

[dp21]

That was my understanding too. Although having seen the new Pendo livery in this thread, I suspect the final Azuma livery will be an evolution rather than revolution of the launch livery

Yes, I was interested and actually quite surprised to see the new pendo livery looking so similar.

I'd agree with you that that is possible especially with this whole "wrapping a ribbon around our trains" thingy which was mentioned earlier.

I don't agree with the criticism of the pendo livery though as it is very much an interim livery and needs to be as simple as possible in case Virgin don't win the new franchise. I wouldn't be surprised to see, linking back to your comment also, a very similar Pendo livery if they DO win the franchise.

 

[Pete_uk]

Red all down the sides where the windows are would look better

 

[XCTurbostar]

Red all down the sides where the windows are would look better

Agreed.

Thanks,
Ross