Use of GBR name and logo on replacement buses

[FOH]

Mod Note: Posts #1 - #19 originally in this thread.

Most unexpectedly I saw a grey double decker bus today replacing trains via East and North Dulwich emblazoned with obviously long term GBR logos and Great British Railways vinyls on the front and sides. To be clear, just red rectangles of wording, not the full blown union flag livery.

 

[omnicity4659]

Most unexpectedly I saw a grey double decker bus today replacing trains via East and North Dulwich emblazoned with obviously long term GBR logos and Great British Railways vinyls on the front and sides. To be clear, just red rectangles of wording, not the full blown union flag livery.

That would have been a Triangle bus, who for some reason like to brand their vehicles, unofficially, for rail replacement…

 

[Russel]

That would have been a Triangle bus, who for some reason like to brand their vehicles, unofficially, for rail replacement…

Any photos?

 

[XCTurbostar]

That would have been a Triangle bus, who for some reason like to brand their vehicles, unofficially, for rail replacement…

Any photos?

I have seen an image of this previously HERE and the branding is extremely poor and non-standard.
GBR is a registered trademark by Network Rail and the Department for Transport including the words themselves in any format as well as the double arrow.
I doubt Go Ahead has asked to use it.

This sort of thing does a lot of damage to the reputation of companies and I should hope the DfT will have something to say about its use..

 

[Russel]

I have seen an image of this previously HERE and the branding is extremely poor and non-standard.
GBR is a registered trademark by Network Rail and the Department for Transport including the words themselves in any format as well as the double arrow.
I doubt Go Ahead has asked to use it.

This sort of thing does a lot of damage to the reputation of companies and I should hope the DfT will have something to say about its use..

Why would they even go to the effort of having them produced?

 

[Park47515]

I have seen an image of this previously HERE and the branding is extremely poor and non-standard.
GBR is a registered trademark by Network Rail and the Department for Transport including the words themselves in any format as well as the double arrow.
I doubt Go Ahead has asked to use it.

This sort of thing does a lot of damage to the reputation of companies and I should hope the DfT will have something to say about its use..

Triangle is a Transport UK operator. And the bus exclusively operates Rail replacement buses for GTR a DfTO company - so why would the DfT be alarmed...

 

[Fokx]

Triangle is a Transport UK operator. And the bus exclusively operates Rail replacement buses for GTR a DfTO company - so why would the DfT be alarmed...

Because they're utilising their branding, logo and brand identity with (presumably) no permission to do so

 

[Park47515]

Because they're utilising their branding, logo and brand identity with (presumably) no permission to do so

We have no way of knowing if they do or don't - and considering the fact that compared to some of the RRB operations in the south, I can't see them being worried about a smart bus that has a GBR logo on!

 

[GoneSouth]

Because they're utilising their branding, logo and brand identity with (presumably) no permission to do so

That’s quite a leap, why presume when you have no idea? If I were to presume, which I’m not, I might go the other way and say that’s great, a RRB that’s easy to find for a change, well done

 

[Russel]

That’s quite a leap, why presume when you have no idea? If I were to presume, which I’m not, I might go the other way and say that’s great, a RRB that’s easy to find for a change, well done

But if it was officially sanctioned by the DFT/GBR, then surely they would have supplied the designs to produce the branding, rather than the very poor DIY attempt we see here.

 

[Fokx]

That’s quite a leap, why presume when you have no idea? If I were to presume, which I’m not, I might go the other way and say that’s great, a RRB that’s easy to find for a change, well done

Because when GBR branding is severely restricted in usage across the railway network, including how and when the new logo is to be worn, used and displayed, it's extremely unlikely that permission has been granted for a single private hire bus operator has been given permission for it's usage.

 

[43096]

But if it was officially sanctioned by the DFT/GBR, then surely they would have supplied the designs to produce the branding, rather than the very poor DIY attempt we see here.

The whole GBR branding is a very poor DIY attempt!

 

[JaJaWa]

I have seen an image of this previously HERE and the branding is extremely poor and non-standard.
GBR is a registered trademark by Network Rail and the Department for Transport including the words themselves in any format as well as the double arrow.
I doubt Go Ahead has asked to use it.

This sort of thing does a lot of damage to the reputation of companies and I should hope the DfT will have something to say about its use..

This seems to be an official GBR rail replacement logo which they are required to use – I’ve seen it on London style buses too

 

[XCTurbostar]

This seems to be an official GBR rail replacement logo which they are required to use – I’ve seen it on London style buses too

Well then I'm even more intrigued because its the wrong font!!

 

[Leyland Bus]

Well then I'm even more intrigued because its the wrong font!!

View attachment 211601

Likely made without official artwork (is RA2/3 commonly available?) and to be fair it "looks near enough", so most folk would likely never notice.

To be really pedantic, it won't be Rail Symbol 2 either!

 

[Ian Hardy]

Triangle is a Transport UK operator. And the bus exclusively operates Rail replacement buses for GTR a DfTO company - so why would the DfT be alarmed...

However Triangle is only a Transport UK rail replacement contractor, they aren't owned by TUK.

 

[Murray J]

Because they're utilising their branding, logo and brand identity with (presumably) no permission to do so

why would they care? The DfT have more important issues to resolve than a rail replacement operator using a logo/name associated with the railways on rail replacement work.

 

[Fokx]

why would they care? The DfT have more important issues to resolve than a rail replacement operator using a logo/name associated with the railways on rail replacement work.

For the exact same reason why most TOCs aren't allowed to use the logo, stations aren't allowed to display certain posters unless it's at a specific point of time or a specific location, and staff are not permitted to wear any GBR branded badges, logos or articles of clothing or lanyards yet (although this does change soon).

They do not want the brand image or identity to be tarnished, and is heavily controlled.

 

[trundlewagon]

They do not want the brand image or identity to be tarnished

The 'official' stuff does a far better job of that than that bus does, to be fair...

 

[Murray J]

They do not want the brand image or identity to be tarnished, and is heavily controlled.

Sure, but in practice it's not worth the effort when there are slightly bigger issues facing GBR...

 

[sabanda]

I think the branding on the bus is rather more tasteful than the actual livery!

 

[Ashley Hill]

staff are not permitted to wear any GBR branded badges, logos or articles of clothing or lanyards yet

I haven’t seen any, does this stuff exist yet?

 

[Fokx]

I haven’t seen any, does this stuff exist yet?

Yes.

At My TOC we were asked to fill in order forms for customised lanyard and name badge preferences In July for an Autumn launch.

GBR badges do exist but I've only personally seen them worn by officials from the DfT

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

I think it's a good idea. You wouldn't want the full branding and livery on a bus because, well, it's a bus, but a little bit of something to reassure passengers that it is a rail replacement bus and not the transport of the Dog and Duck's darts team seems sensible.

Yes.

At My TOC we were asked to fill in order forms for customised lanyard and name badge preferences In July for an Autumn launch.

GBR badges do exist but I've only personally seen them worn by officials from the DfT

Same, we were told September...

 

[BuhSnarf]

It might not be the right font, but it's certainly visible and recognisable enough for a passenger to see and realise this is the bus they need. Beats a bit of paper in the window, anyway.

 

[williamn]

I've even seen a car with this on! Presumably a taxi for when a bus isn't required?

 

[RJ]

I have seen an image of this previously HERE and the branding is extremely poor and non-standard.
GBR is a registered trademark by Network Rail and the Department for Transport including the words themselves in any format as well as the double arrow.
I doubt Go Ahead has asked to use it.

This sort of thing does a lot of damage to the reputation of companies and I should hope the DfT will have something to say about its use..

In my opinion, Triangle's liveried fleet are invariably smart looking and impeccably turned out.

I've even seen a car with this on! Presumably a taxi for when a bus isn't required?

Likely a ferry car. The GTR network is quite vast geographically and there is a band of operators based somewhere near the centre who travel to where the work is. For duties requiring two drivers, ferrying arrangements are needed to save on PVR and dead running costs.

 

[GoneSouth]

I've even seen a car with this on! Presumably a taxi for when a bus isn't required?

That’s hilarious. There’s enough room in that car for the train driver and guard. What line doesn’t have passengers?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That’s hilarious. There’s enough room in that car for the train driver and guard. What line doesn’t have passengers?

It's a sleeper replacement (the berth is the boot)

 

[RJ]

Out of interest, what font does GBR use? It’s one where lower case letters are bigger than capital letters?