Eleanor LNER Doll

[PLY2AYS]

I'd certainly say Avanti's publicity approach is beyond rubbish even compared to the muppet doll or that weird EMR thing. Associating tortoises with trains...there are far too many jokes to be had there! (Yet they had the potential open goal of "travel with a bit of Italian flair" - Illy espresso, pizza and pasta from the buffet, and the association with a very well run railway - and didn't take it!)

I always wondered whether the tortoise was in response to GA’s hare.

There have been instances in the past of TOCs having banter in advertising against each other; Virgin and Chiltern on billboards in Birmingham springs to mind.

 

[GingerSte]

Personally I like the muppet, and the tortoise. Personal opinion, though.

Now if we could get a CrossCountry doll, along with some pins (after having the "pleasure" of using their services yesterday evening)...!

 

[Spartacus]

Personally I reckon if it, and the "you can go with...." slogan had been used sparingly it'd have been fine, but as it stands, with her and the slogan in various multiple forms popping up everywhere (literally in the case of the adverts) it's a case of 'oh no, not again'. The campaign's LNER's version of 'see it, say it, sorted'.

That said, I do dislike the general UK approach these days of tending to speak to an adult audience as if they're children and there being little in the way of trying to show how good things could be, I forget the word for it. I was only a kid at the time but Intercity's TV adverts still stick with me today because they did that really well. Relax......

 

[Mikey C]

I don't mind any of the particular advertising characters, just find it odd that the individual railway companies are still using such disparate advertising techniques when you'd expect a certain amount of branding uniformity to start arriving now, even in the ones that haven't been nationalised yet.

I remember a few weeks ago watching some football on ITVX and seeing separate adverts for LNER, Avanti and one other operator (SWR or GWR) all within a few minutes, which seemed a waste. LNER and Avanti, for example, aren't rivals ( other than for a tiny number of destinations), they're just serving different "north south" routes.

 

[Spartacus]

What would Gresley think of his railway represented by Eleanor or Stanier of his railway represented by a tortoise(!) on skates?

But it will work, and says much about us, laid-back, modern Britons, the railway's market.

WAO

Stanier would no doubt have hated it, he hated having to put bathtubs on Coronations for the publicity department for instance, but Gresley might have been pretty OK. The GNR & original LNER were very big on publicity, it was the GNR who launched The Jolly Fisherman for instance; he'd no doubt be a football style man in a suit mascot today!

 

[Sun Chariot]

It seems that there are mixed feelings about LNER's red haired Advertisement doll.

More than anything, it has to be both marketable (think, kids merchandising) and memorable.

For me, a good example of how not to do it, were those two hideous, scary, rather confusing mascots for London 2012 Olympics.
Do you remember their names and what each looked like? I lived in the London borough of the main Olympic stadium at the time and even I didn't "get" them.

Wenlock: mascot for the Olympic Games. It was named after Much Wenlock, Shropshire, which hosted Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games that inspired Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement.

Mandeville: mascot for the Paralympic Games. Its name was inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, the location of the hospital that hosted the Stoke Mandeville Games.

 

[Spartacus]

I can't say I have anything good or bad to say about the doll itself, but the adverts themselves are OK by virtue of that Fatboy Slim classic they use.

At least they haven't butchered it too much or recorded it as so many do now. Someone really should do a version of the ads with Christopher Walken (perhaps in muppet form) replacing Eleanor popping up around the train, and with the original lyrics, now that really WOULD be worth a watch!

 

[Harratt4]

If you were marketing this thread I think I know who could be used...



(Alt text: Statler and Waldorf, two elderly male Muppet characters, sit close together laughing. Statler, with a moustache and cane, grins widely. Waldorf, bald with thick eyebrows, gestures as he jokes. Both wear dark suits and ties.)

 

[Ellwill]

At least we can be fairly confident that Eleanor won't turn out to be a paedophile.

Apparently the paedophile in question was chosen as surveys showed that he was tge most trusted person by the public.

BR allegedly canned him once they heard rumours of his necrophilic tendencies had reached the news desks of some of the national papers, though at the time they refused to run the story on the basis that it would damage his charity work...

 

[williamn]

Can you actually buy one now? I’d be first in the queue if so!

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

It seems that there are mixed feelings about LNER's red haired Advertisement doll.

While some are said to find it creepy (will appear coming down your carriage?).

Others would like to buy one. Is LNER missing out?

WAO

Personally I find the TV advert a bit naff, but the unit with Eleanor stuck to the sides looks quite decent!
It doesn't influence me to use or not to use their service; like many people if LNER go where I want to be I use them, if not I don't.

GNER was dire.

Generally agree. The catering offer was great, but they only refurbished the mk4s when the ingrained dirt in them had turned them into little more than a public health hazard, and the 91s after Network Rail had got very cross about them failing all the time. In short they spent nothing unless they absolutely had to.
The interior of the mk4s looks a million times smarter nowadays, thanks LNER!

Associating tortoises with trains...there are far too many jokes to be had there! (

I think they've thought of that, officially it's a Turtle! (Turbo the turtle).
I actually like the Avanti advert; I particularly liked the bit where he swerved in to eat (shoplift?) a lettuce leaf from outside a greengrocers, but sadly that's been cut out recently.

that weird EMR thing

Allegedly it's a cushion

At least we can be fairly confident that Eleanor won't turn out to be a paedophile.

Apparently the paedophile in question was chosen as surveys showed that he was tge most trusted person by the public.

If they do an award for the best post on the forum this year, here is the winner! I absolutely belly laughed

 

[43096]

I love those. To me it's a superb branding package.

It’s naff, rather twee and entirely at odds with the reality of travelling with GWR.

There were some rather good, errrr, alternatives too.

“Five get stuck on the seawall”

 

[Sad Sprinter]

I don't find it either creepy or appealng enough to want to buy one; just annoying and yet another step towards demeaning the railway. The advert plays as if it is aimed at young children, but why would they be a target audience? Significantly worse than the GWR 'Five' adverts.

I agree with this. I always thought railway ought to present themselves more “seriously” than other forms of transport but whatever.

I do find the doll itself slightly creepy. I don’t know why. It’s clearly not supposed to be, but I guess it’s that thing where something is mostly human, but not quite fully human.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The advert plays as if it is aimed at young children, but why would they be a target audience?

Or possibly the generation who grew up with the Muppets? (Anyone in the UK under 60, although in the USA they go back to 1955)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Oct 2025 ==

Significantly worse than the GWR 'Five' adverts.

Never a fan of Enid Blyton myself, but I understand the pitch GWR are making.

Interestingb that the colour of the trains in the ads is much lighter than the actual real trains - nearer to the Southern Railway's malachite green, and in my opinion much more attractive than the rather drab shade used by GWR.

Of course neither is anything like the traditional GWR coaching stock (and Multiple unit) livery - only the locos were green.

Although some GWR railcars did succumb to green in BR days

 

[duffield]

I agree with this. I always thought railway ought to present themselves more “seriously” than other forms of transport but whatever.

I do find the doll itself slightly creepy. I don’t know why. It’s clearly not supposed to be, but I guess it’s that thing where something is mostly human, but not quite fully human.

The "uncanny valley" is the usual term, often applied to androids/robots which appear almost, but not quite human.

 

[ExRes]

Eleanor? shouldn't it be Chucky?

 

[Krokodil]

I don't know how much of an overreaction it is when you look at the comments on their Facebook, comments about them being muppets and unable to run a train service properly certainly do feature. Despite the high fares LNER seem to be a reasonably popular TOC, but the unkind comments are still there and this promotion does seem to invite them a bit.

The public would pick up on anything to take the mick out of. GWR's advertising campaign coincided with the chaotic 800 introduction so "Five-vice-ten leave passengers behind"

 

[BRcrosslane]

It seems that there are mixed feelings about LNER's red haired Advertisement doll.

While some are said to find it creepy (will appear coming down your carriage?).

Others would like to buy one. Is LNER missing out?

WAO

Picture please if possible

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Picture please if possible

See link below. Or just Google "Eleanor the LNER Muppet".

 

[mpthomson]

I agree with this. I always thought railway ought to present themselves more “seriously” than other forms of transport but whatever.

Why?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Why?

Probably because railways, trains and platforms are a pretty dangerous and safety critical environment…

Just a guess though.

 

[Fokx]

Probably because railways, trains and platforms are a pretty dangerous and safety critical environment…

Just a guess though.

So are airlines but that didn't stop British Airways from using comedy in their safety videos or ANA from using pokémon to demonstrate the safety features of their aircraft

Link to former BA Safety Video
Link to BA Downton Abbey Safety Video
Link to ANA safety video

 

[Lewisham2221]

Probably because railways, trains and platforms are a pretty dangerous and safety critical environment…

Just a guess though.

That doesn't mean that railway advertising needs to resemble a 1940s public information film though.

As for other comments about the advertising being aimed at younger generations - surely that's the point? If you only aim your advertising at people born before the 1960s, customer base is going to... erm... die out, somewhat.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Some people see Muppets, I see Avenue Q.

Although if GBR starts rolling out Muppet based adverts for the various franchises. I'd like to see "Sprocket" represent the former TVS area. (Although I know the lighthouse was in Cornwall).

Images shows "The Captain" (Fulton Mackay), Principal Keeper "PK" (John Gordon Sinclair), and "Bertwhistle Jr - BJ" (Simon O'Brien) in marketing photos each alongside "Sprocket".

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Probably because railways, trains and platforms are a pretty dangerous and safety critical environment…

Just a guess though.

Come travel with us it's really dangerous.

Doesn't seem like the optimal advertisement

 

[PLY2AYS]

Come travel with us it's really dangerous.

Doesn't seem like the optimal advertisement

Agreed!

Was merely proposing a potential line of reasoning for the original comment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The public would pick up on anything to take the mick out of. GWR's advertising campaign coincided with the chaotic 800 introduction so "Five-vice-ten leave passengers behind"

There are some good parody cartoons out there of the GWR stuff to be fair... "Five don't get past Slough" and such.




View of a pair of 80x at Paddington with the caption "Five give up on a Great Western adventure and get a taxi"



View of 4 out of 5 at an 80x window with the caption "Five wish they'd taken the bus"



80x in the background with a dog on a stand up paddleboard in front with caption "Timmy says it's quicker by boat".



Left: view of an 80x at Dawlish with Famous Five on the beach and the caption "Five stranded at the beach"

Right: view of an 80x behind the Famous Five having a picnic, two of them doing handstands. Caption "It's already Thursday, planned your bus replacement service?"

I can't remember where I got these so if you made then and want them acknowledging or removing please PM.

This sort of parody is of course wonderfully British and would happen even if the TOC was perfect.

 

[Sun Chariot]

So are airlines but that didn't stop British Airways from using comedy in their safety videos

I first saw the BA spoof last November, on a LHR-NYC flight. Utter genius!

 

[Megafuss]

I'm convinced this whole thing about LNER being the "best" is purely down to the rail comentariat coming to that opinion as they graze in first class on discount tickets eating free food.

A less than stellar record on p-codeding and an abomination of a ticketing policy. If this was Avanti they'd be pressure to hand the contract back...........(Side eye)

And the stupid doll can go in the bin

 

[duffield]

...

And the stupid doll can go in the bin

Now you've done it. Soon you'll find it's grown some sharp little teeth and an evil grin, and then it'll be inching slowly up your duvet in the middle of the night!