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Great British Railways - First Train in New Livery

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Towers

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Here is a pic taken from 'class 8Xx appreciation group' on Facebook.
Goodness me… Each to their own, I suppose.

It might have been better suited to the side of a home grown and intercity-worthy 225 set, but these celebratory liveries are always a nice touch regardless!
 

800001

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Goodness me… Each to their own, I suppose.

It might have been better suited to the side of a British built, intercity-worthy 225 set, but these celebratory liveries are always a nice touch regardless!
Yes. All 4.1K of them.
 

Russel

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For what this has cost, they could have replaced some of the collapsed seats!

Never mind though, some vinyl that means absolutely nothing to most of the traveling public must take priority.
 

43096

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Goodness me… Each to their own, I suppose.

It might have been better suited to the side of a home grown and intercity-worthy 225 set, but these celebratory liveries are always a nice touch regardless!
I bet Gresley will be spinning in his grave at having his name on the side of a Hitachi contraption. He would never have put his name to that!
 

Segedunum

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For those interested, the Sir Nigel Gresley unit (801228) should be on the 0530 Leeds to Kings Cross, 0833 Kings Cross to Newcastle, 1227 Newcastle to Kings Cross and 1630 Kings Cross to Edinburgh tomorrow.

The 0833 is booked to have a run around the High Level Bridge tomorrow to get the unit back the right way around (it should be in reverse at the moment for the naming ceremony).

Of course all subject to change if operational reasons require it.
 

RUK

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I guess the first LNER unit might be 801 225, since that has the “Eleanor” branding on it, which will presumably become redundant when it comes to GBR?
 

Russel

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I mean, that is also what it being wrapped in GBR would be, something that means nothing to the travelling public.

That's a point, they've spent money on Gresley vinyl while simultaneously wrapping the fleet in GBR livery...

No wonder tickets are so expensive.
 

800001

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That's a point, they've spent money on Gresley vinyl while simultaneously wrapping the fleet in GBR livery...

No wonder tickets are so expensive.
As far as we know this vinyl might only be on for a limited time ie a year, similar to the Centenary livery.

It might be 2-3 years before Azumas are fully deliveries to GBR meaning that this vinyl does not impact up on that programme.

You could always submit a freedom of information request to ask specifically how much the vinyl and application of it cost.
 

Russel

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As far as we know this vinyl might only be on for a limited time ie a year, similar to the Centenary livery.

It might be 2-3 years before Azumas are fully deliveries to GBR meaning that this vinyl does not impact up on that programme.

You could always submit a freedom of information request to ask specifically how much the vinyl and application of it cost.

It's still money that doesn't need spending while actual train services are being cut to save money.
 

800001

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It's still money that doesn't need spending while actual train services are being cut to save money.
Stuff like this has gone on for years.
Are LNER cutting services to save money? No.
 

Russel

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Stuff like this has gone on for years.
Are LNER cutting services to save money? No.

Oh, so LNER and Avanti who are cutting services to save money don't both come under the same overall umbrella of the DFT then?
 
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Interesting that they are keeping a yellow front. I wonder if that will feature on all trains?
I'm used to all trains having bright yellow fronts that you can see for (literally) miles, and always wondered if the move away from that was an unnecessary safety downgrade.

I can't help but think that a purple/silvery-grey cab isn't as easy to spot as something bright yellow. In an industry that rightly prides itself on safety, it seems a retrograde step to prioritise looks.
 
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800001

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I'm used to all trains having bright yellow fronts that you can see for (literally) miles, and always wondered if the move away from that was an unnecessary safety downgrade. Now obviously we don't yet know exactly what happened at Bedford, but I can't help but think that a purple/silvery-grey cab isn't as easy to spot as something bright yellow. In an industry that rightly prides itself on safety, it seems a retrograde step to prioritise looks.
Two extremely bright red lights would make the train visible from the rear, and 3 very bright white lights extremely visible from the front.
 

TRAX

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I'm used to all trains having bright yellow fronts that you can see for (literally) miles, and always wondered if the move away from that was an unnecessary safety downgrade. Now obviously we don't yet know exactly what happened at Bedford, but I can't help but think that a purple/silvery-grey cab isn't as easy to spot as something bright yellow. In an industry that rightly prides itself on safety, it seems a retrograde step to prioritise looks.
The answer is simple really — do all the countries which don’t have yellow fronts (most of them actually) have collisions more often than the UK ? ;)
 

norbitonflyer

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I'm used to all trains having bright yellow fronts that you can see for (literally) miles, and always wondered if the move away from that was an unnecessary safety downgrade. Now obviously we don't yet know exactly what happened at Bedford, but I can't help but think that a purple/silvery-grey cab isn't as easy to spot as something bright yellow. In an industry that rightly prides itself on safety, it seems a retrograde step to prioritise looks.

Are the tail lights of modern trains as bright as their headlights?
 
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TT-ONR-NRN

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The thing is though, I feel like you have to have considerably poor eyesight for the yellow front vs other front to make a difference. If your eyesight is that weak that you cannot see a train in front unless it is yellow, there is potentially a question to be asked about whether or not your vision is strong enough to be passing medical anyway.
 
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I hear you, but my local station is on a straight piece of track and I can see a train approaching from literally a mile away, maybe slightly more. If it blended into the scenery that time would be less. Maybe not much, but every second could make a difference.

I also take the point above about lights, but what about in the event of a complete failure? I know we're talking about vanishingly rare freak events, but it just strikes me that it's a backwards step.

Anyway, I appreciate and respect the views of those in the industry, I'm just thinking out loud. Thank you for indulging me.
 

vuzzeho

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I hear you, but my local station is on a straight piece of track and I can see a train approaching from literally a mile away, maybe slightly more. If it blended into the scenery that time would be less. Maybe not much, but every second could make a difference.

I also take the point above about lights, but what about in the event of a complete failure? I know we're talking about vanishingly rare freak events, but it just strikes me that it's a backwards step.

Anyway, I appreciate and respect the views of those in the industry, I'm just thinking out loud. Thank you for indulging me.
I believe in the event of a complete failure of headlights, the train would be forced to run at a very low speed (can't remember exactly) and be pulled out of service immediately.

The reality is that these days, there really is no good non-aesthetic reason for trains to have yellow fronts. It's yet to be seen whether something like the 810, with its metallic finish on the nose, will receive a yellow front, or if they'll keep the metallic finish.
 

800001

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I believe in the event of a complete failure of headlights, the train would be forced to run at a very low speed (can't remember exactly) and be pulled out of service immediately.

The reality is that these days, there really is no good non-aesthetic reason for trains to have yellow fronts. It's yet to be seen whether something like the 810, with its metallic finish on the nose, will receive a yellow front, or if they'll keep the metallic finish.
Trains across a lot of Europe do not have yellow ends either and are visible for a considerable distance due to the lights.
 

physics34

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I believe in the event of a complete failure of headlights, the train would be forced to run at a very low speed (can't remember exactly) and be pulled out of service immediately.

The reality is that these days, there really is no good non-aesthetic reason for trains to have yellow fronts. It's yet to be seen whether something like the 810, with its metallic finish on the nose, will receive a yellow front, or if they'll keep the metallic finish.
There is a good reason....
..familiarity.
Staff who have been around for a long time, including Drivers, are used to yellow ends
 

irish_rail

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There is a good reason....
..familiarity.
Staff who have been around for a long time, including Drivers, are used to yellow ends
You beat me too it. As a driver of a number of years, I am used to equating yellow with the front of another train. Black or grey simply don't, no matter how bright the headlights.
 

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