Notable Advertising Liveries

[trainmania100]

One of the things I kind of miss is the advertising Liveries on class 319s. Such as the Lycamobile and Swiss livery, and obviously the rainbow red class 319.

It seems that ad liveries aren't widely used anymore. I remember seeing some class 158s in some branded livery.

What other "business branded" units have been notable and is there any reason why this is more or less a thing of the past? Do rail stock leasers not like vinyls on the units anymore ? Poor ROI for advertisers ?

 

[KevinBrum12]

British Telecom in the pre-privatisation era paid for a DMU to be painted in "Busby" livery, which was used on some of the PTE routes and Provincial Routes around the likes of Bristol and Exeter. British Telecom also made use of the "Inter-City Exhibition Train" but this was more to sell their networking products aimed at businesses, such as Private Area Branch Exchanges (PABX) and Merlin. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/144555-do-you-remember-the-buzby-special/

Surprised some of the airlines using Gatwick Airport did not use an advert train to promote their services to rail commuters. Virgin I can understand to avoid confusion with their franchises but some of the other airlines might have used this as a way of building brand awareness, especially if tied in with other advertising like TV.

 

[frankmoh]

There was a livery on a Thameslink 319 for a nursery that commuters could drop their kids off to (I think it was near a station) and I've heard that the livery outlasted the nursery!

 

[pdeaves]

Surprised some of the airlines using Gatwick Airport did not use an advert train to promote their services to rail commuters.

Scanned from a not-super-sharp slide, but this illustrates that some airline (sorry, can't remember which; Continental?) did advertise on a train.

Hmmm, not sure how to make the image visible rather than as an attachment...

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View attachment 1999-01-01x 23mod 73201 at Gatwick box AY.jpg

 

[KevinBrum12]

Scanned from a not-super-sharp slide, but this illustrates that some airline (sorry, can't remember which; Continental?) did advertise on a train.

Hmmm, not sure how to make the image visible rather than as an attachment...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2025 ==

View attachment 191518

So they did on the old BR Gatwick Express Mark II's https://sremg.org.uk/emu/class488.shtml

 

[Islineclear3_1]

From memory, 3 Great Eastern Class 321s ran in "Braintree Freeport" vinyls from around 1999 to early 2000s to promote the then new shopping centre and station at Braintree. I think they were u. 322/323 and 324 from memory?

In Connex days, there were 4 Brighton Express Class 319s advertising children's creche facilities at Victoria (or Brighton). These were 214/215/218 and 220 and the coloured vinyls certainly stood out!

 

[ls2270]

A number of SWT Class 455s carried advertising liveries before refurbishment. Ones that come to mind were Cote du Rhone (red) and Legoland (yellow). I believe the reason that they are no longer in favour is that the vinyls trap moisture underneath, causing corrosion of the bodywork.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

A number of SWT Class 455s carried advertising liveries before refurbishment. Ones that come to mind were Cote du Rhone (red) and Legoland (yellow). I believe the reason that they are no longer in favour is that the vinyls trap moisture underneath, causing corrosion of the bodywork.

There was a poppy one too - can't remember the number

 

[ls2270]

There was a poppy one too - can't remember the number

There was indeed…I think it carried two versions of the livery. There was also one commemorating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

There was indeed…I think it carried two versions of the livery. There was also one commemorating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

I think 455.864 was the poppy one and 455.868 for the jubilee

 

[KevinBrum12]

I'm surprised that once the sectorised and pre-privatised British Rail provincial and NSE sectors had got some new trains that they did not try and persuade some big brands to advertise their wares using an all over livery on the likes of a 150 or 317? The bus industry had been doing it since the 1970's; an early advertising campaign for Barclaycard used buses in an all over livery, but on the most modern buses in the fleets.

Would the money raised though have gone directly into the sectors accounts or would it have ended up in some BR subsidiary like British Transport Advertising (who I recall owned billboards at stations)?

 

[ls2270]

I think 455.864 was the poppy one and 455.868 for the jubilee

A bit of Google searching shows you’re absolutely correct!

 

[D6130]

Northern's 158 844 ran in yellow "Tour de France" promotional livery for most of 2014, to publicise Le Grand Depart which took place in Yorkshire.

 

[ls2270]

Others that have just come to mind were a couple (I think) of Wessex Trains Class 158s in Ginsters Pasties livery.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Garish and thankfully short lived was this Christmas advert for pet food on the side of an IET kitchen car. Just hoped it didn’t work one of the Pullman restaurant services! Here’s a picture of it.

Don’t forget the Hornby HST power car.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

A bit of Google searching shows you’re absolutely correct!

I took many photos of 455s in NSE/SWT days and the vinyled ones definitely stood out!

 

[pdeaves]

Garish and thankfully short lived was this Christmas advert for pet food on the side of an IET kitchen car. Just hoped it didn’t work one of the Pullman restaurant services! Here’s a picture of it.
View attachment 191522

I was just looking for that one. The same unit later received Paddington in Peru (film) advertising.

Then there was the Ginsters Pasty 158 and a Western Daily Mail (?) 158. Loads and loads of promotional liveries that weren't advertising per se (poppies, jubilee, Wessex Trains did local lines promotional liveries, etc.)

 

[frankmoh]

Whilst waiting for the steam service to depart Paddington today, I noticed one of the IETs (802106) was advertising the other famous Paddington.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There was indeed…I think it carried two versions of the livery. There was also one commemorating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

There were two poppy ones; when the livery was updated it was put onto a different unit from the original.

 

[Steddenm]

There was a 47 and some coaches/wagons painted in the Celebrations (chocolate) livery at some point.

Some of the 158s for Wessex Trains also had odd liveries such as a Ginsters pasty as.

Some of the 390s have had wraps films and tv shows, as have some of the 225s.

 

[Strathclyder]

Though not advertising per se, First ScotRail vinyled up 170420 in a promotional livery backing Glasgow's ultimately successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in 2007 (linked photo copyright of Martin Loader):

170420 Lathallan 5 October 2007

Then there was the Ginsters Pasty 158 and a Western Daily Mail (?) 158.

Some of the 158s for Wessex Trains also had odd liveries such as a Ginsters pasty as.

Five 158s were Ginster-ised: 158819, 821, 825, 827 & 841. Martin Loader (hondawanderer) caught all but 827 at work.

158819 Tram Inn 5 May 2003

158821 Wormbridge 5 May 2003

158825 Wem 4 June 2005

158841 Spetchley 20 September 2003

There was a 47 and some coaches/wagons painted in the Celebrations (chocolate) livery at some point.

47627 was the one. Was applied in 1997, but the vinyls didn't last long and were quickly removed. 627 retained the unique all-over maroon livery for the rest of it's career; it was withdrawn in March 2000 and had been scrapped by the end of that summer (image copyright of Andy Willians, Martin Loader & Flickr's Wilbert B respectively).

BescotPlus - 47627 at Hamstead

47627 & 47745 Little Heck 20 March 2000

47627 Wigan Springs Branch 21-05-00

47627 awaits final disposal at Wigan Springs Branch on 21st May 2000. This was the loco painted into the 'Mars Celebrations' livery for a short while, which I never managed to phot.

www.flickr.com

 

[Jaydubya]

Continental Airlines also had advertising on a Class 465 Networker. Saw it a couple of times on Blackfriars - Sevenoaks trains in the 2000s

 

[stadler]

There are probably hundreds of units that have had a special asvertising livery at some point.

• 143603 (WT) was painted in an allover Visit Bristol adveryising livery.

• 143611 (VL) was painted in an allover Valley Fun Days advertising livery to advertise days out on the Cardiff Valleys network.

• 143613 (VL) was painted in an allover Valley Fun Days advertising livery to advertise days out on the Cardiff Valleys network.

• 143617 (WT) was painted in an allover Visit Bristol adveryising livery.

• 143618 (WT) was painted in an allover Visit Bristol adveryising livery.

• 143619 (WT) was painted in an allover Visit Bristol adveryising livery.

• 153302 (WT) was painted in an allover Scenic Railways Of Devon And Cornwall advertising livery.

• 153303 (ATW) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wales Line advertising livery.

• 153312 (ATW) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wales Line advertising livery.

• 153314 (AR) was painted in an allover Norwich Festival advertising livery.

• 153318 (WT) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wessex Line advertising livery.

• 153320 (ATW) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wales Line advertising livery.

• 153321 (ATW) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wales Line advertising livery.

• 153355 (WT) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wessex Line advertising livery.

• 153362 (ATW) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wales Line advertising livery.

• 153370 (WT) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wessex Line advertising livery.

• 153372 (WT) was painted in an allover Heart Of Wessex Line advertising livery.

• 153377 (WT) was painted in an allover Scenic Railways Of Devon And Cornwall advertising livery.

• 153380 (WT) was painted in an allover Scenic Railways Of Devon And Cornwall advertising livery.

• 156402 (NXEA) was painted in an allover Chapelfield Shopping advertising livery.

• 158798 (FGW) was painted in an allover Springboard Charity advertising livery.

• 158825 (WT) was painted in an allover Ginsters Pasties advertising livery.

• 158841 (WT) was painted in an allover Ginsters Pasties advertising livery.

• 158842 (W&B) was painted in an allover Western Mail advertising livery.

• 170208 (NXEA) was painted in an allover The Brecks advertising livery.

• 170399 (CT) was painted in an allover Derwent Valley Line advertising livery.

• 170407 (SR) was painted in an allover Police Text Message Service advertising livery.

• 170421 (SR) was painted in an allover Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 "Back The Bid" advertising livery.

• 170505 (CT) was painted in an allover Birmingham Bullring advertising livery.

• 170513 (CT) was painted in an allover Robin Hood Line advertising livery.

• 221115 (VT) was painted in an allover Bombardier advertising livery but only on the driving carriages.

• 313027 (WAGN) was painted in an allover £1 child flat fare ticket advertising livery.

• 313050 (WAGN) was painted in an allover £1 child flat fare ticket advertising livery.

• 313060 (WAGN) was painted in an allover Hertfordshire County Council Intalink advertising livery.

• 313064 (WAGN) was painted in an allover £1 child flat fare ticket advertising livery.

• 313120 (SL) was painted in an allover London Olympics "Back The Bid" advertising livery.

• 315812 (ONE) was painted in an allover London Olympics 2012 "Back The Bid" advertising livery.

• 315845 (WAGN) was painted in an allover £1 child flat fare ticket advertising livery.

• 315857 (WAGN) was painted in an allover Hertfordshire County Council Intalink advertising livery.

• 315858 (WAGN) was painted in an allover 0800 40 50 40 Police Number advertising livery.

• 357008 (C2C) was painted in an allover Gold Geese Charity advertising livery.

• 357010 (C2C) was painted in an allover "All Trains Are Greener Now" to promote something to do with the enviroment.

• 357016 (C2C) was painted in an allover Police Guardian App Download advertising livery.

• 319214 (FCC) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

• 319215 (FCC) was painted in an allover Visit Switzerland advertising livery.

• 319218 (FCC) was painted in an allover Lyca Mobile advertising livery.

• 319364 (FCC) was painted in an allover Thameslink Programme advertising livery.

• 319365 (FCC) was painted in an allover Thameslink Programme advertising livery.

• 319422 (FCC) was painted in an allover London Olympics 2012 "Back The Bid" advertising livery.

• 319431 (FCC) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

• 319456 (FCC) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

• 321334 (FGE) was painted in an allover NS (Dutch Railways livery to advertise the Sail Rail service.

• 321428 (SL) was painted in an allover "Make The Link" advertising livery but i forget what this was about.

• 378221 (LO) was painted in an allover Lyca Mobile advertising livery.

• 390013 (VT) was painted in an allover advertising livery with penguins but i forget what it was for and it was only on the driving carriages.

• 390040 (VT) was painted in a Virgin Radio advertising livery but only on the driving carriages.

• 390107 (VT) was painted in an allover Independence Day film advertising livery but only on the driving carriages.

• 455853 (SWT) was painted in an allover Cotes Du Rhone Wine advertising livery.

• 455856 (SWT) was painted in an allover Legoland advertising livery.

• 455868 (SWT) was painted in an allover Golden Jubilee advertising livery.

• 455869 (SWT) was painted in an allover Poppy Rememberance Day advertising livery.

• 455870 (SWT) was painted in an allover Days Out advertising livery.

• 456006 (SN) was painted in an allover Making London Safer advertising livery.

• 465214 (SE) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

• 465237 (SE) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

• 465241 (SE) was painted in an allover Continental Airlines advertising livery.

There are probably dozens and dozens of other similar ones that i have missed off the list.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Just checked back through my old combined volumes.

It was 455 864 that had the original poppy livery and 455 869 which had the revised one. For a brief period in late 2002 / early 2003, both were out at the same time.

 

[Strathclyder]

@stadler Just checked Flickr and 170421 did indeed carry Commonwealth Games promotional branding in 2007. I had always assumed that it was just 420 that recieved it. Every day is a school day on here.

170420 - Carnoustie

170420 in its 'Backing Scotland's Bid For A First Place - Commonwealth Games 2014' promotional livery, is seen at an equally colourful Carnoustie working the 17.53 Aberdeen to Glasgow QSt. Sister unit 170421 was similarly treated.

www.flickr.com

170421 - Monifieth

Specially liveried to support Glasgow's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth games, 170421 is seen approaching Monifieth with the 13.23 Aberdeen to Edinburgh

www.flickr.com

(both linked pics copyright of Flickr's Jim Ramsay)

 

[Minerva05]

I have a recollection that some of the GatEx class 460s had all over advertising for airlines (at least on the driving end carriages) at one point…Emirates and Continental come to mind…

 

[Strathclyder]

I have a recollection that some of the GatEx class 460s had all over advertising for airlines (at least on the driving end carriages) at one point…Emirates and Continental come to mind…

That is indeed correct, though it was Delta rather than Continental and the entire unit was treated as opposed to just one of the driving end cars. Not 100% sure if there was any overlap between them, as Emirates appeared in 2008 and Delta was still around in summer 2007

460001 in it's Delta garb approaching Victoria - 30th July 2007

460006 with it's Emirates garb passing South Croydon - 27th December 2008

(all copyrights of linked images remain with original owner)

 

[pdeaves]

Here's 460003 and 460005 both in Continental livery.

 

[frankmoh]

There was also a 465 in Continental livery. Very random given Southeastern does not go to any airport.

 

[pdeaves]

From memory, 3 Great Eastern Class 321s ran in "Braintree Freeport" vinyls from around 1999 to early 2000s to promote the then new shopping centre and station at Braintree. I think they were u. 322/323 and 324 from memory?

I have a picture of 321329 in Freeport livery. Don't know the other two.