Bee Network livery spotted in Manchester Piccadilly

[Bayum]

I actually really like it.

 

[NSE]

I am just waiting for someone to actually do what the unit wording says by a passenger on the platform next to the unit in question, then seeing the "men in white coats" take the poor unfortunate person away to a place where the required treatment could be administered.

It’s some harmless marketing designed to promote something. It’s got you talking, so clearly it’s had the desired effect…

Why does this bother you so much? If an individual wants to say ‘hello/yellow’ to a train, let them. It’s no weirder than enthusiasts personifying locos and units or bursting with excitement over seeing ‘the old girl’ when a specific one pulls up.

They’re launching a new brand/product. I agree it would have been nice to match the yellow with the yellow front, but I think it suits the brand, looks good and adds some colour.

 

[occone]

As someone who is local to Manchester, I couldn't be more excited to see the Bee Network coming to our trains. Seeing this train was a real thrill. The Bee Network is so exciting, feels like transport in Manchester is coming together at long last.

 

[tomoufc]

As someone who is local to Manchester, I couldn't be more excited to see the Bee Network coming to our trains. Seeing this train was a real thrill. The Bee Network is so exciting, feels like transport in Manchester is coming together at long last.

I generally agree. Really, these are only modest changes, but in the context of decades of leaving things to the market, they feel massive.

 

[NSE]

I generally agree. Really, these are only modest changes, but in the context of decades of leaving things to the market, they feel massive.

Modest, maybe, but I agree they’re potentially massive. But consistent colour and branding goes a long way to helping passengers know where they are. It stops ‘oh, is my bee ticket/card/whatever valid here’, but when the whole station and trains has that branding, clearly, yes, it is valid. The tube branding is some of the most recognised in the world. So I think this is great for Manchester.

 

[devonexpress]

My posting was meant to bring that matter to the attention of thread contributors from areas well away from Greater Manchester who would be unfamiliar with such nonsense put for all to see on the side of a carriage on a rail unit.

I don't really see the big deal about it. It's highlighting that that services will become Yellow BeeNetwork in a fun and quirky kind of way, they did the same thing on one of the Metrolink trams before it became integrated with BeeNetwork despite the rest of the fleet staying in Metrolink colours. The point is to get people to notice and in that regard it works very well.

Seems like a cheap faded yellow

That's because it's vinyl and not painted, it's the same with the very first BeeNetwork bus that went on display and the "Say Yellow" Metrolink tram. Note all the new Enviro400EVs come painted in a slightly darker and much more shiny yellow.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2025 ==

Modest, maybe, but I agree they’re potentially massive. But consistent colour and branding goes a long way to helping passengers know where they are. It stops ‘oh, is my bee ticket/card/whatever valid here’, but when the whole station and trains has that branding, clearly, yes, it is valid. The tube branding is some of the most recognised in the world. So I think this is great for Manchester.

Have to agree, I last visited Manchester in 2022 when BeeNetwork was just beginning and I went back again this year, the difference in terms of accessibility to the wider public transport network and being able to just tap in and out without having to really worry about cost (as travel gets to a fixed price after so many trips) was massive. It's something I'd really like to see rolled out to other parts of the country such as Bristol.

 

[Sheridan]

Doesn't work as a pun. The stress on "hello" is on the second syllable unlike "yellow". Say it out loud (as the copywriters obviously didn't).

The stress can fall on either syllable of ‘hello’ depending on the context. If answering the phone, for example, it’s almost always on the second syllable, but there are plenty of naturally-occurring situations where it falls on the first.

 

[CHAPS2034]

It’s some harmless marketing designed to promote something. It’s got you talking, so clearly it’s had the desired effect…

Why does this bother you so much? If an individual wants to say ‘hello/yellow’ to a train, let them. It’s no weirder than enthusiasts personifying locos and units or bursting with excitement over seeing ‘the old girl’ when a specific one pulls up.

It would seem that some people have a 'bee in their bonnet' (sorry) about anything Mayor Burnham does...

 

[Bletchleyite]

It’s some harmless marketing designed to promote something. It’s got you talking, so clearly it’s had the desired effect…

In any case, in a Manchester or Lancashire accent, "hello" and "yellow" do very close to rhyme. It's not a new slogan, it's been used since the start.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Doesn't work as a pun. The stress on "hello" is on the second syllable unlike "yellow". Say it out loud (as the copywriters obviously didn't).

It absolutely does work as a pun if you've ever said or heard "y'ello" when answering a phone call or similar - perhaps it's more of a regional thing?

 

[Peter0124]

It's a pun based on "say hello" and the yellow colour used by Bee Network.

It would've been better if it was 'yello' than yellow. Its just harmless fun aswell so.

 

[rapmastaj]

I generally agree. Really, these are only modest changes, but in the context of decades of leaving things to the market, they feel massive.

Absolutely! I love it so exciting to see things being done differently. Local democracy in action at last!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It’s some harmless marketing designed to promote something. It’s got you talking, so clearly it’s had the desired effect…

Why does this bother you so much? If an individual wants to say ‘hello/yellow’ to a train, let them.

To the more cognitive thinkers , especially those south of Watford, it gives the impression that "Barmpots up north" are now ruling the roost...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

To the more cognitive thinkers , especially those south of Watford, it gives the impression that "Barmpots up north" are now ruling the roost...

The irony

 

[NSE]

To the more cognitive thinkers , especially those south of Watford, it gives the impression that "Barmpots up north" are now ruling the roost...

As someone who was born and raised in London and has moved slightly outside into the heart of the South of England, I don’t think that’s the case.

Whilst I do believe London should have large portions of money spent on transport (the population is vastly larger than anywhere else in the UK), I also believe that the north has been neglected and doesn’t deserve to be ignored. I don’t see how the words ‘say yellow’ would give me, a Londoner, the impression Northerners are ‘ruling the roost’. As someone who relies heavily on public transport, I know how vital having a good, integrated network like London is. So I’m pleased Manchester is making moves to replicate it up north. Personally I don’t care either way for ‘say yellow’, but it’s harmless and brings attention on a positive development for the north.

Also, I highly doubt many people in London and the South even know about this. I do because I’m a rail enthusiast and I take note and enjoy learning about public transport. The vast majority of people down here won’t have a clue and will be reading about their own interests instead.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Also, I highly doubt many people in London and the South even know about this. I do because I’m a rail enthusiast and I take note and enjoy learning about public transport. The vast majority of people down here won’t have a clue and will be reading about their own interests instead.

The matter appears to be driven by someone currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester with ambitions to be the next leader of the Labour Party and who ensures that his name is known throughout the land, especially down south.

 

[Tracked]

I wonder what they will look look like after operating for 15 hours in slush.

Can't be any worse than all the various fleets with mainly white liveries, can it?

Or maybe, the NR departmental stock that's yellow already?

 

[sprinterguy]

Exactly this - that diagram is usually covered by a 331. We swapped it off for a 323 to take advantage of this for the press event.

Yes it took me slightly by surprise to see a 323 turn up on that service from Stoke at Macclesfield yesterday morning: I've gotten used to that one being worked by a 331 for a while now.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Looks even better in person

 

[CHAPS2034]

The matter appears to be driven by someone currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester with ambitions to be the next leader of the Labour Party and who ensures that his name is known throughout the land, especially down south.

For anyone wondering why this has been mentioned I refer you to my post #38

It would seem that some people have a 'bee in their bonnet' (sorry) about anything Mayor Burnham does...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Why did Bee Network decide to use the same livery colour used by Merseyrail?

 

[CHAPS2034]

For anyone wanting to see 323239 today, it recently passed Heald Green on 2A96 1036 Piccadilly to Crewe via the airport

Plenty of winter sunshine for photos

Then 2H46 1146 Crewe - Picc via Stockport
2K37 1306 Picc - Crewe via Stockport
2A89 1416 Crewe - Pic via the Airport
2A91 1536 Pic - Crewe via the Airport
2H41 1646 Crewe - Pic via Stockport

and on into the darkness...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It would seem that some people have a 'bee in their bonnet' (sorry) about anything Mayor Burnham does...

Only the things that give the impression that make the North-West is some place where less adult-minded ideas seem to hold sway. The Bee Network name would be an ideal place to display on the wooden train in Toyland, with Noddy as the engine driver...

 

[Elecman]

Why did Bee Network decide to use the same livery colour used by Merseyrail?

Because Bees are yellow?

 

[NSE]

Only the things that give the impression that make the North-West is some place where less adult-minded ideas seem to hold sway. The Bee Network name would be an ideal place to display on the wooden train in Toyland, with Noddy as the engine driver...

I mean, ‘Oyster’ doesn’t scream public transport. My understanding is it was a play on ‘the world is your oyster’ idea/phrase and I’m pretty sure it borrowed the idea from Hong Kong’s equally maturely named ‘Octopus’.

 

[saismee]

A whole lot of complaining over nothing going on in this thread... I originally thought it was going to just be people comparing it to the GBR livery.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Because Bees are yellow?

What are Bees in comparison to Merseyrail?

 

[nilvaj395]

Looks even better in personView attachment 193831

Look's much better with the sun on it, I wish the Northern part did not have a blue background on the doors, but other than that it looks nice. I hope it goes like the buses in time and the Northern logo, bubbles and BN advertising text is removed, fingers crossed.

 

[Leyland Bus]

That's because it's vinyl and not painted, it's the same with the very first BeeNetwork bus that went on display and the "Say Yellow" Metrolink tram. Note all the new Enviro400EVs come painted in a slightly darker and much more shiny yellow.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2025 ==

To be pedantic, anything delivered new from ADL is in a lighter shade of yellow than the actual correct yellow. Despite it being pointed out to them several times they won't admit or correct it. Sth to do with them using an American firm for their paint system apparently.

Why did Bee Network decide to use the same livery colour used by Merseyrail?

Because the trams were already yellow, with a grey based moquette inside, so it was deemed easier to align everything with Metrolink.

Ironically, Bees are also orange and black, which would have been much better

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ironically, Bees are also orange and black, which would have been much better

Oh god, no it wouldn't. Yuck. Orange just looks vile on anything to my eye. It screams "B&Q"
I actually really like the yellow.