Best and worse bus liveries

[Stonesourscotty]

Best is Lothian nothing compares to it

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I was never a fan of this monstrosity we were subjected to before First went all corporate...

But I rather liked this one for Taunton's P&R when it first started...

And say what you like about Tracky, their deckers always looked the part. Simple but effective:

 

[90sWereBetter]

I've always liked Metroline's old red and blue livery. Very simple livery, but it stood out from the crowd in London, and looked very good indeed on just about everything they operated. In fact, I liked most of the 80% red liveries that were used, until TFL's ego ruined everything.

I'm just old enough to remember Grey-Green and Capital Citybus liveries in East London, which form some of my earliest bus-related memories. Great liveries. I also liked the local First liveries in my area.

The new Ipswich Buses livery is very, very gaudy. There was no reason to change from the tasteful white and green they were using beforehand. Probably the worst new livery in the country IMO.

But by far the worst bus livery has to be First's Barbie 2. Looked dreadful, and had the effect of making buses look several years older than they were. Add the fact that most of the bangers in the fleets got the livery, and that it killed off the local liveries just strengthens the argument.

 

[43106]

The best bus livery I've ever seen was the old Sheffield Corporation - white with rich blue stripes. Nothing has ever come close. I think Rochdale Corporation had a similar livery. Although it looked good, it must've been murder to keep it clean.
The worst is a toss-up between the NBC Leaf Green & Poppy Red debacle and the Lothian Red & Gold diamond 'livery', which was just something that creamed the jeans of Neil Renilson. It was (still is) hideous, but mercifully, they are being repainted into the old Madder & white livery.

 

[martinsh]

But I rather liked this one for Taunton's P&R when it first started...

Actually I much prefer the current livery of that vehicle

 

[Statto]

I've always liked Metroline's old red and blue livery. Very simple livery, but it stood out from the crowd in London, and looked very good indeed on just about everything they operated. In fact, I liked most of the 80% red liveries that were used, until TFL's ego ruined everything.

I'm just old enough to remember Grey-Green and Capital Citybus liveries in East London, which form some of my earliest bus-related memories. Great liveries. I also liked the local First liveries in my area.

The new Ipswich Buses livery is very, very gaudy. There was no reason to change from the tasteful white and green they were using beforehand. Probably the worst new livery in the country IMO.

But by far the worst bus livery has to be First's Barbie 2. Looked dreadful, and had the effect of making buses look several years older than they were. Add the fact that most of the bangers in the fleets got the livery, and that it killed off the local liveries just strengthens the argument.

Agreed, i liked the Grey-Green & Capital Citybus liveries, liked the First Capital Yellow/Red & the reverse Red/Yellow liveries.

Don't like the Arriva livery feel it's cold, which is a shame as most Arriva companies had great liveries before the corporate livery was forced upon them. I like Stagecoach swooshes livery.

Favourite livery is MPTE Green/Cream/Brown, NBC Green, & GM Buses White/Orange/Black livery.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

The worst livery in London imo was London United. that white roof made the etching really stick out on the top deck windows.

 

[Drsatan]

The best bus liveries I can think of are the following

1) Wilts & Dorset's old livery (dating from the early 90s). Although it looks fairly formal it's simple, clean and effective, and suits some buses very well, such as the Optare Spectra

2) Solent Blue Line's first livery (was common until 2005-2006). I liked the bright, cheerful nature of this livery which seemed to suit any bus.

3) Southern Vectis's old ivory and green livery. Simple and effective

Worst liveries I can think of

1) The 'Salisbury Reds' livery. To me it's simply overpowering

2) First's new livery. Just looks a mess

 

[Ivo]

But by far the worst bus livery has to be First's Barbie 2. Looked dreadful, and had the effect of making buses look several years older than they were. Add the fact that most of the bangers in the fleets got the livery, and that it killed off the local liveries just strengthens the argument.

I always used to think that Barbie looked worse on vehicles that usually had Barbie 2 (back in the days when Barbie 2 was still a common sight). Now, no chance. Barbie 2 reall didn't work on anything, and whatever they were trying with the fade vinyl - if the intention was to make vehicles using it look old(er), they pass with flying colours.

I did like the look of Lynxes in Barbie 2 though.

 

[Class 33]

Best bus liveries in my opinion...

Bristol City Line's City Clipper livery on the Leyland Olympian's http://www.flickr.com/photos/861562...2aR-9oTauR-e1kUbP-aj6pUV-8dbhq4-b95gda-aZZs8B

And I do miss the days when there were green buses in Bristol(along with many other parts of the country) They should bring this livery back, even on all these not so interesting modern day buses!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/3266326557/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16737615@N04/5357957545/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristol-re/3835741965/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/5893447996/

 

[bristolian]

Best bus liveries in my opinion...

Bristol City Line's City Clipper livery on the Leyland Olympian's http://www.flickr.com/photos/861562...2aR-9oTauR-e1kUbP-aj6pUV-8dbhq4-b95gda-aZZs8B

And I do miss the days when there were green buses in Bristol(along with many other parts of the country) They should bring this livery back, even on all these not so interesting modern day buses!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/3266326557/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16737615@N04/5357957545/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristol-re/3835741965/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/5893447996/

The picture of WM1306 is one of mine .

 

[Class 33]

The picture of WM1306 is one of mine .

Aha! Great photo there mate!

The Bristol RE, much missed! The 1980's, much missed!

 

[bristolian]

Aha! Great photo there mate!

The Bristol RE, much missed! The 1980's, much missed!

Cheers, and yes - much missed indeed .

 

[Pride Of Crewe]

My favourite has to be Stagecoach gold, this followed by Newport Bus. I like how it has been applied to the 400 double deckers. Then Stagecoach Red and White and last is Jones Of Aberbeeg. My least favourite is Country bus pre Peakes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/6351328962/

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

The CoastlinX53 surely has a shout. Definitely not biased

 

[TrainfanBen]

Worst undeniably IMO: (Blackpool Transport)

I'm fond of De Courcey though, looking so smart and professional. Other than that I can't think of any.

EDIT:
What I find worse about Blackpool, is that their previous liveries under "Metrocoastlines" were perfectly adequate, the clarity for holidaymakers was great.
My question would be did they change their livery because it was too much like National Express?
I've always wondered what it'd be like if Blackpool transport became an NX operation.

 

[martinsh]

Worst undeniably IMO: (Blackpool Transport)

I'm fond of De Courcey though, looking so smart and professional. Other than that I can't think of any.

EDIT:
What I find worse about Blackpool, is that their previous liveries under "Metrocoastlines" were perfectly adequate, the clarity for holidaymakers was great.
My question would be did they change their livery because it was too much like National Express?
I've always wondered what it'd be like if Blackpool transport became an NX operation.

Well I LIKE than livery and think it's bet than the old hotch-potch Metro Coastlines ones (but not as good as the old green / cream of course)

 

[Ivo]

That black at the front just looks wrong. A bit like using what looks like a Centro on a tourist route.

Oh wait...

 

[GazUk]

I get about to Leicester quite abit atm, and even though the arriva standard livery looks a bit bland, the new "sapphire Route" between the city and oadby town has a nice looking bus running on that route.

Also one company from that area that is worth a mention is Beaver Bus
Their livery isn't anything to shout about, but i always snigger when i see their slogan

Locally to me, travel De courcey have a pretty alright scheme.

 

[Surreyman]

Worst ever - Original First Corporate colours - Pink, Purple & battleship grey.

Best modern livery - Go Ahead London - Red with charcoal skirt and yellow lining.

Best traditional - London Country Green with yellow.

 

[A0]

Worst in many ways was the NBC leaf green, particularly when the vehicles were allowed to get shabby. London Country was particularly bad in that regard, removing the white stripe and painting bumpers all black meant back in the 80s their Nationals looked really shabby and down-at heel when compared to neighbouring companies such as United Counties.

Immediately post privatisation there were some really nice liveries

- London Country NE's green and white looked good
- Luton & District's red and cream
- Eastern National green and yellow
- Cambus two tone blue and cream

Not so good was the 'LDT Shires' blue and yellow which looked wrong on some vehicles.

Generally, anything using black looks bad - it's a lousy colour to keep clean and shows up any panel 'imperfections' - and the examples given, such as Blackpool's current livery, really show that in my opinion.

 

[Ivo]

The Sapphire bus looks really good. Is that even possible where Arriva are concerned?

Immediately post privatisation there were some really nice liveries

- Eastern National green and yellow

Now that was a nice livery And where I grew up, it was almost ezclusiverly seen on nicer vehicles such as Nationals and Lynxes too - although the yellow/green adopted for Darts later on did look quite good admittedly.

 

[A0]

As for liveries that I think don't work...

Sampsons
(Red and blue: should never be seen together)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmightycat/5729910676/

Sampson's livery was actually OK - the problem was the decrepit vehicles they used when combined with appalling service.

They very quickly lost their contracts (both LRT and HCC) owing to poor service. Not helped when VOSA (or whoever it was back then) also pulled a few of their vehicles off the road for various problems.

 

[capital12]

I get about to Leicester quite abit atm, and even though the arriva standard livery looks a bit bland, the new "sapphire Route" between the city and oadby town has a nice looking bus running on that route.

Also one company from that area that is worth a mention is Beaver Bus
Their livery isn't anything to shout about, but i always snigger when i see their slogan

Locally to me, travel De courcey have a pretty alright scheme.

De Courcey livery is effectively Brighton & Hove (from who they purchased some second hand buses) with the colours changed slightly (and for the worse in my opinion!)

 

[ReverendFozz]

Some of the ones I like and dislike are

Worst

Go North East fromer 21 Angel

Go North East 50 Whey Aye-50

Go North East Fab Fifty Six
Huge image removed.

My favourite liveries are

Go North East Red Northern Livery

Go North East Poppy Livery

Photos are not mine, found them mostly on Flickr