Transpennine - taking the express out of TPE?

[D Almond]

Is there a degree of irony that when informing me that my data is going to be transferred to the new operating company Transpennine are going to be renamed from Transpennine Express to Transpennine Trains. Are they deliberately losing Express in their name is that just their ambition?

 

[Spartacus]

Is there a degree of irony that when informing me that my data is going to be transferred to the new operating company Transpennine are going to be renamed from Transpennine Express to Transpennine Trains. Are they deliberately losing Express in their name is that just their ambition?

Well they do operate a few distinctly non-express services, such as the Leeds - Huddersfield stopper. Maybe being TP rather than TPE is more appropriate giving the Toilet Paper connotations in some places!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Almost certainly this is simply that the operation is being moved from First Transpennine Express Ltd (a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc) to Transpennine Trains Ltd (a subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd), and this just concerns the legalities surrounding a transfer of personal data between holding companies and will have no effect at all on the public-facing branding.

 

[beano900]

Almost certainly this is simply that the operation is being moved from First Transpennine Express Ltd (a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc) to Transpennine Trains Ltd (a subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd), and this just concerns the legalities surrounding a transfer of personal data between holding companies and will have no effect at all on the public-facing branding.

Yes, just like Northern Rail to Northern Trains. A distinction between legal entities.

 

[skyhigh]

Yes, just like Northern Rail to Northern Trains.

To be pedantic, that was actually Arriva Rail North to Northern Trains Ltd.

 

[irish_rail]

Just be glad they didn't go with the dated , daft sounding "railway" , like Great Western Railway. Great Western or Great Western Trains sounds far better to me!

 

[ainsworth74]

Perhaps missing a trick but I thought that the branding would remain Transpennine Express, it's simply the legal entity that is having a name change?

A bit like how Northern (brand) is really Northern Trains Limited (the company) whilst Southeastern (brand) is SE Trains Limited (company).

 

[nr758123]

Whether or not the branding is right is the least of the problems that passengers continue to experience on a daily basis.

 

[ainsworth74]

Whether or not the branding is right is the least of the problems that passengers continue to experience on a daily basis.

Yes but those are much more difficult to resolve!

 

[LittleAH]

Is there a degree of irony that when informing me that my data is going to be transferred to the new operating company Transpennine are going to be renamed from Transpennine Express to Transpennine Trains. Are they deliberately losing Express in their name is that just their ambition?

Nothing is changing bar the transfer to OLR. Name and branding to remain.

 

[Topological]

I think the government should allocate large sums to repainting all the trains and rebranding everything as Trasnpennine Trains.

Thankfully, while the DfT are daft, they are not that daft

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is there a degree of irony that when informing me that my data is going to be transferred to the new operating company Transpennine are going to be renamed from Transpennine Express to Transpennine Trains. Are they deliberately losing Express in their name is that just their ambition?

Were you given the actual date when this will take place?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I'll attach the full email below for anyone who hasn't received it

Important notice: your data is due to be transferred Dear [Name removed], As you may be aware, TransPennine Express operated by First TransPennine Express Ltd is transitioning to become TransPennine Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings (DOHL) on 28th May 2023. Until the transfer to TransPennine Trains Ltd on 28th May 2023 First TransPennine Express Limited will continue to operate the TPE rail franchise as normal. All tickets will remain valid and passengers should continue to use and purchase tickets in the normal way. In preparation for this transition, we will be transferring your personal data and account information, in respect of any purchased tickets for journeys due to take place on or after 28th May 2023 to TransPennine Trains Ltd prior to the handover. This is to allow TransPennine Trains Ltd to prepare for the handover, ensure that your tickets will be honoured and continue to provide you with important updates about your bookings and TransPennine Express. Your personal data will only be used, in accordance with the law and the applicable TransPennine Trains Ltd Privacy Notice (see below), to ensure that the TransPennine service that you are familiar with continues to operate (unless you choose to consent to other uses such as to receive electronic marketing from TransPennine Trains Ltd). TransPennine Trains Ltd will be the controller of your personal data and its privacy notice explains everything you need to know about your rights under the applicable data protection laws and how and why your personal data will be processed by or on behalf of TransPennine Trains Ltd. You can read the relevant TransPennine Trains Ltd Privacy Notice here. Where it is necessary for First TransPennine Express Limited operating as TransPennine Express, to retain any of your personal data after 28th May 2023, it will continue to be held in accordance with our Privacy Notice. For further information as to how TransPennine Trains Ltd will process personal data, please see their Privacy Notice. Kind regards, TransPennine Express

Were you given the actual date when this will take place?

Email doesn't show a date of the data to be transferred.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Nothing is changing bar the transfer to OLR. Name and branding to remain.

Changing anything more than the legal minimum would cost money. It might happen in due course, though.
A rebrand would be pointless if they intend (or at least consider the possibility of) merging Northern and TPE or carving them up differently.

 

[158801]

My understanding is that TPE will still be called TPE bu5 run by Transpennine trains rather than First Transpennine Express

 

[bramling]

Almost certainly this is simply that the operation is being moved from First Transpennine Express Ltd (a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc) to Transpennine Trains Ltd (a subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd), and this just concerns the legalities surrounding a transfer of personal data between holding companies and will have no effect at all on the public-facing branding.

I hope the branding doesn’t change. Both the brand and livery are (IMO) very good. Shame the service quality has never matched up to it.

 

[bengley]

I hope the branding doesn’t change. Both the brand and livery are (IMO) very good. Shame the service quality has never matched up to it.

Turd rolled in glitter is probably the best way to describe it!

 

[LittleAH]

Changing anything more than the legal minimum would cost money. It might happen in due course, though.
A rebrand would be pointless if they intend (or at least consider the possibility of) merging Northern and TPE or carving them up differently.

Was made clear to us on a staff call that under OLR the intention is to keep TPE separate from Northern.

 

[Geeves]

You would imagine while the day to day running would remain separate to the outside observer the Northern release about TPE mentioned "synergies". You would assume at the top level it would be easier. Already Northern management have gone over to TPE.

What was the process when Thames Trains became part of GWR?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was made clear to us on a staff call that under OLR the intention is to keep TPE separate from Northern.

From past postings on this and other websites, there are those who will always want Northern Trains to conjoin with TPE.

 

[Killingworth]

Was made clear to us on a staff call that under OLR the intention is to keep TPE separate from Northern.

For now, under a seconded MD from Northern. Nothing will be totally off the table and closer cooperation, rather than integration, with Northern seems sensible maybe with TPE as the premier brand. With industrial relations the way they are any attempts to harmonise anything at present would be fraught with further conflict!

 

[driver9000]

Were you given the actual date when this will take place?

New company takes charge from 02:00 on 28 May 2023.

 

[Irascible]

Just be glad they didn't go with the dated , daft sounding "railway" , like Great Western Railway. Great Western or Great Western Trains sounds far better to me!

Nothing dated about the word - it's just the wrong word if you're not actually running the whole railway! Does First own the GWT trademark?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Just be glad they didn't go with the dated , daft sounding "railway" , like Great Western Railway. Great Western or Great Western Trains sounds far better to me!

I'm of the opposite opinion to be honest. "X Trains" sounds amateurish and a bit toytown, "X Railway" sounds more like an actual... railway company.

TOCs being called "X Trains" may be more accurate (outside of a tiny section of SWR), but it sounds awful.

 

[43066]

Just be glad they didn't go with the dated , daft sounding "railway" , like Great Western Railway. Great Western or Great Western Trains sounds far better to me!

“Railway” sounds a lot better than “trains” to me. Have some pride in the heritage!

 

[bramling]

“Railway” sounds a lot better than “trains” to me. Have some pride in the heritage!

Same. “Trains” gives the feeling of a bus company, and we know how many people regard bus travel.

 

[Nick Ashwell]

Just be glad they didn't go with the dated , daft sounding "railway" , like Great Western Railway. Great Western or Great Western Trains sounds far better to me!

Great Western Trains was seperate prior to the Greater Western Franchises merger. I assume, dangerously, that this played part in the decision.

That said, I've been fascinated as to who owns the trademark on the name GWR for a while, I'm assuming DfT given the history?

Back to TP/TPE, does it matter that much the name of a franchise/operator? As mentioned it is the legal entity with Companies House, although I would expect that First Group likely registered Transpennine Express as a trademark and therefore aren't going to just hand it over to the OLR without a payment for the trademark.

Same. “Trains” gives the feeling of a bus company, and we know how many people regard bus travel.

I agree completely with this and the post by 43066, some pride in our system, as the oldest in the world doesn't go amiss.

It's not as bad as Newport Bus being named as such, despite operating services which don't touch Newport such as the 72 between Monmouthshire (Chepstow) and FoD (Lydney) (I know it's owned by Newport City Council before someone jumps on that).

Names are just that, names, and whilst sounding good and related to the operations is preferable, are not really important. I work for an underfloor heating company which is just ***** Group, no mention of what we do and is that really an issue?

 

[XAM2175]

That said, I've been fascinated as to who owns the trademark on the name GWR for a while, I'm assuming DfT given the history?

The trademark on the GWR logo is currently held by First Greater Western Ltd of Swindon:

Search for a trade mark - Intellectual Property Office

trademarks.ipo.gov.uk

There doesn't appear to be a current registration for the name in isolation.