Why have metal nameplates become less common on multiple units?

[Transilien]

Is it because of cost? The vinyl ones look tacky and make the name about as replaceable as the livery.

 

[fgwrich]

A couple of reasons I can think of off the top of my head;
Cost - Every TOC across England being under the thumb of the DfT who would I'm sure rather not be spending money on shiny cast frivolities such as nameplates
Temporary / Permentant nature
Gauge Clearance - It's not much, but it's still an extra inch sticking off the bodyside.
I cant imagine someone like Hitachi being too pleased to have extra holes drilled into the sides of their shiny new units for example while nameplates are bolted on - and we can see the after effects what this looks like with the XC Voyagers.

 

[Merle Haggard]

A couple of reasons I can think of off the top of my head;
Cost - Every TOC across England being under the thumb of the DfT who would I'm sure rather not be spending money on shiny cast frivolities such as nameplates
Temporary / Permentant nature
Gauge Clearance - It's not much, but it's still an extra inch sticking off the bodyside.
I cant imagine someone like Hitachi being too pleased to have extra holes drilled into the sides of their shiny new units for example while nameplates are bolted on - and we can see the after effects what this looks like with the XC Voyagers.

Back in RfD days when we named a few locos to flatter customers there were very strict instructions about the exact location of holes drilled in the carbodies of Cl 47s, because of weakening the integral structure. Presumably applies to anything where the structural integrity relies on stressed body panels.

 

[hacman]

It's also much easier and cheaper to replace with clean vinyl than to have a metal plate re-sprayed when they inevitably look a bit worn.

 

[Deepgreen]

Cost - capital and operational.

 

[DaveyJones]

Look at the repairs to the Voyager Carbodies where the Virgin Nameplates were removed and you'll find your answer.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Metal is a modification to the structure of the vehicle, with all the safety hoops that you have to jump through, as well as a re-run of the gauge clearance model for NR.

Vinyl is just a slap it on job.

 

[Transilien]

Honestly I don’t know why they even bother with naming anymore when so many of them are so short lived! In my opinion a name should last the whole unit’s life.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Metallic plates cost not a lot as I recall - couple of hundred quid and the placing of on a traction unit was wisely left to the experts on TMD's etc. Plates were made in 3's -2 for the traction and one to give to a customer or to be hung in a suitable location - e.g "Filton Abbey Wood" on a 150 (the only train I have ever personally named) , had the spare plate donated to the power box at Bristol TM. (hope it's still there)

Come "leasing" of course , then permission had to be sought from the asset owners who of course made this a financial issue.

 

[cj_1985]

Come "leasing" of course , then permission had to be sought from the asset owners who of course made this a financial isissue.

You make it sound like you don't think the owners have a right to consider the long term condition of their asset

 

[158747]

Look at the repairs to the Voyager Carbodies where the Virgin Nameplates were removed and you'll find your answer.

In the case of the Voyagers it’s all down to the cost of repairing the body after the removal of the nameplates. If a higher quality job was done after the removal of the nameplates and the area repainted, there would have been no evidence there had previously been a nameplate there. This also explains the reason why on the Cross Country Voyagers that the outline of the Virgin badge on the front is still visible after almost 17 years since Virgin lost the franchise!

 

[DaveyJones]

In the case of the Voyagers it’s all down to the cost of repairing the body after the removal of the nameplates. If a higher quality job was done after the removal of the nameplates and the area repainted, there would have been no evidence there had previously been a nameplate there. This also explains the reason why on the Cross Country Voyagers that the outline of the Virgin badge on the front is still visible after almost 17 years since Virgin lost the franchise!

Absolutely, but those repair costs can't be cheap!