What changes could be made to franchises, concessions, and brandings going forward?

[MackTen]

Americans don't do a lot well, but I've always loved their train names.

Even "Amtrack" still feels amazingly modern.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Americans don't do a lot well, but I've always loved their train names.

Even "Amtrack" still feels amazingly modern.

Interesting you should say that. I think it sounds extremely outdated. Then again, that might just be because I’ve seen their tin can trains.

 

[Purple Orange]

I’ve always liked the names of specific express services, like the Flying Scotsman, the Pallentine etc. Even Trans Pennine Express is a good name - probably the best one out there right now. I’d like there to be an overarching brand for intercity services that use HS2 infrastructure. Perhaps ‘Intercity’ might be it, but it would be better to get something original.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ve always liked the names of specific express services, like the Flying Scotsman, the Pallentine etc. Even Trans Pennine Express is a good name - probably the best one out there right now. I’d like there to be an overarching brand for intercity services that use HS2 infrastructure. Perhaps ‘Intercity’ might be it, but it would be better to get something original.

Licence "ICE" off Germany?

 

[Purple Orange]

Licence "ICE" off Germany?

Wouldn’t be original though. Eurostar was an original name and it is pretty good. Like with anything European, sections of the press would no doubt have ridiculed it, but it is fairly iconic now.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wouldn’t be original though. Eurostar was an original name and it is pretty good. Like with anything European, sections of the press would no doubt have ridiculed it, but it is fairly iconic now.

I'd venture that it is likely to be called something like "Avanti High Speed" or maybe "Avanti Hispeed", but TBH I'd take most things over that

 

[Martin23230]

I do hope that if the trend continues in the order it's doing now, we're in store for a BR branding renaissance soon.

But then does it really make sense to bring back "British" Rail, when transport is devolved and presumably ScotRail and TfW will keep their own branding?

Maybe National Rail might make more sense then English Rail (or similar), but as a comparison the Highways Agency was renamed Highways England now that Scotland and Wales look after their own roads. Although just before Christmas we found out that the government wants to rebrand it again to "National Highways", which of course drew complaints from the devolved nations (and for being a huge waste of money).

 

[HarryL]

But then does it really make sense to bring back "British" Rail, when transport is devolved and presumably ScotRail and TfW will keep their own branding?

Maybe National Rail might make more sense then English Rail (or similar), but as a comparison the Highways Agency was renamed Highways England now that Scotland and Wales look after their own roads. Although just before Christmas we found out that the government wants to rebrand it again to "National Highways", which of course drew complaints from the devolved nations (and for being a huge waste of money).

I would say it does make sense to bring back a unified rail brand, though I agree Scotland and Wales should maintain their own brand and control. National Rail makes the most sense to do that with in England imo as it's already somewhat established and has their foot in the door already, any nationalisation would probably stem from them anyway.

Giving them a new logo using the NR Rail Alphabet 2 typeface in BR style, maybe even converting their blue to Rail Blue as a nod and putting more of an emphasis on the double arrow, all as the unified main customer facing brand would all be a good starting point imo. Then can start to rebrand the franchises/concessions to a set of brands like InterCity, Regional Railways, whatever names they want for them.

 

[43096]

Wouldn’t be original though. Eurostar was an original name and it is pretty good. Like with anything European, sections of the press would no doubt have ridiculed it, but it is fairly iconic now.

Eurostar wasn't an original name. It was already registered by the Italians from memory.

 

[HarryL]

Giving them a new logo using the NR Rail Alphabet 2 typeface in BR style, maybe even converting their blue to Rail Blue as a nod and putting more of an emphasis on the double arrow

My very quick mock-up of how this would look, using OG Rail Alphabet since I don't have the new one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I like the Britsh Rail symbol being in a circle, it makes it look more modern.

 

[PTR 444]

I like the Britsh Rail symbol being in a circle, it makes it look more modern.

I second this, maybe with a few colour variants for different operating areas/types of service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To be fair we've already got this:

National Rail logo with BR symbol in circle and text

Doesn't look dated despite being maybe 10-15 years old now. Perhaps change the font to give it an update?

 

[HarryL]

Here's the Rail Alphabet version with a circle around the double arrow, using the proportions from the BR manual (obviously aside from the circle).

 

[hexagon789]

But then does it really make sense to bring back "British" Rail, when transport is devolved and presumably ScotRail and TfW will keep their own branding?

ScotRail was a British Rail brand anyway

 

[Mrwerdna1]

I suppose "National Rail" really is best suited, boring as it may be. Other names just end up sounding silly (but it's still great fun coming up with them):

GNR for "Great National Rail(way)", ICR (InterCity Rail), ICX (pronounced as InterCity X), ICS (InterCity Swift, InterCity Sprinter, InterCity Speed or InterCity Speedbird), ICH (Intercity High Speed), Cross Country Express (that name would have to be purchased), Cross Country Sprinter, Union Sprinter or National Sprinter, Network InterCity, Network Express, Trans Capital Connect, InterCapital Connect or Cross Capital Connect, TransNational Express, TransCentral Express, Union Express, InterCity Central, InterCity Connect etc.

Going with foreign-sounding brand names: InterCity Volante, InterCity Rapide, InterCity Royale etc.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suppose "National Rail" really is best suited, boring as it may be. Other names just end up sounding silly (but it's still great fun coming up with them):

ICR (InterCity Rail), ICX (pronounced as InterCity X), ICS (InterCity Swift, InterCity Sprinter, InterCity Speed or InterCity Speedbird), ICH (Intercity High Speed), Cross Country Express (that name would have to be purchased), Cross Country Sprinter or National Sprinter, Network InterCity, Network Express, Trans Capital Connect, InterCapital Connect or Cross Capital Connect, TransNational Express, Union Express, InterCity Central, InterCity Connect etc.

Going with foreign-sounding brand names: InterCity Volante, InterCity Rapide, InterCity Royale etc.

"Rail England" may be worth considering, as the devolved administrations are not going to want to rename theirs.

 

[ABB125]

"Rail England" may be worth considering, as the devolved administrations are not going to want to rename theirs.

I prefer "English Railways"

 

[PG]

I prefer "English Railways"

Going by recent DfT thinking which resulted in the Highways Agency becoming Highways England maybe we might see "Trains England".

 

[ABB125]

Going by recent DfT thinking which resulted in the Highways Agency becoming Highways England maybe we might see "Trains England".

That just sounds juvenile!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Going by recent DfT thinking which resulted in the Highways Agency becoming Highways England maybe we might see "Trains England".

That was where I got "Rail England" from. They haven't called it "Cars England"?

 

[PG]

That was where I got "Rail England" from. They haven't called it "Cars England"?

Don't give them ideas

That just sounds juvenile!

Yep, let's hope they realise that and consign it to the bin!

 

[Mrwerdna1]

Actually, it's going to be TfE isn't it? I can see it coming already...

 

[Dr Day]

'English' TOCs eg GWR, XC and Avanti still provide services for many journeys within Wales, and the 'Welsh' TOC journeys within England - see no reason why a national brand cannot be established covering the whole of GB

 

[Bletchleyite]

'English' TOCs eg GWR, XC and Avanti still provide services for many journeys within Wales, and the 'Welsh' TOC journeys within England - see no reason why a national brand cannot be established covering the whole of GB

Because the Welsh aren't going to let go of TfW in a hurry. And before long, Avanti/LNER/CS/TPE services to Scotland will be international trains, no different from the way you see DB in the Netherlands etc. You see Welsh trains in England and you'll see English trains in Wales etc.

 

[HarryL]

'English' TOCs eg GWR, XC and Avanti still provide services for many journeys within Wales, and the 'Welsh' TOC journeys within England - see no reason why a national brand cannot be established covering the whole of GB

It's moreso because since the BR days, Scotland and Wales have gained devolved parliaments which control their rail services, so any new nationalised network would probably not include them unless they wanted to just match the branding.