I think it was always intended to be stickers, I cant remember anything official saying there would be cast gWr logos on the rolling stock.
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FGW - W announcement
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CC 72100
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Was only a matter of time...
That was the original plan, however I gather that it now being considered - not least in part due to the external conditions of some of the West Fleet bodywork. That combined with the delays to the LTV fleet cascade which will see the 143s now likely to stay on for a little longer and the desire to make everything green.
I was at a meeting on Tuesday where FGW managing director Mark Hopwood was speaking and he said that not all rolling stock would be going green.
The HSTs just back from Kilmarnock painted blue certainly won't be getting yet another coat of paint before they leave GWR-land for good.
The odd tatty dmu may get a repspray to see out its lease period, but I'd expect the main effort to be concentrated on gradually repainting the stock planned to stay in the area for the long term.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
He is quite amusing. Worth a follow just for entertainment value, even if not a regular fGW traveller, unlike some of the other more vitriolic ones. I particularly like the gWr "cat in a hat".
Unfortunately, @fgw got bored and blocked him...
He also seems to have https://twitter.com/teamhipflask which is where he is currently active, so not sure about what the second one is for!
Edit: there's also https://twitter.com/GWR_help which is amusing!
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Pacers may receive temporary branding in that case. I.e. not a full repaint but the logos changed outside and inside and a few other minor touches. FGW's pacers are probably the most decent ones of the bunch as they are well looked after. Compare that to an Arriva Trains Wales pacer. At the risk of going off topic, where are FGW's pacers expected to go? Strengthen ATW valley services or to retire some of Northern's worst 142s?
And on the GWRKMC page, this did give me a laugh.
And on the GWRKMC page, this did give me a laugh.
FGW (sorry, GWR) decided to go to the expense of sending me a letter by post to tell me about the rebrand, but how it isn't just a "mere rebadging exercise", it's a "statement and a mission" with a "far reaching plan to set about the greatest transformation in the railway for decades", "largest fleet overhaul" and "heralding a new age of faster electric trains with the foremost technology and passenger comforts", and ending with "GWR is more than a name - it is a promise and one we mean to keep".
I'm afraid I can't take it seriously, given that practically all of the ongoing rail investment is happening on the other side of Dawlish to where I am... Apart from the AT300s of course
I'm afraid I can't take it seriously, given that practically all of the ongoing rail investment is happening on the other side of Dawlish to where I am... Apart from the AT300s of course
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I know how you feel, I had that same Letter and Email as well. I think the only Statement and Mission here is how can we have a massive PR exercise to pretend that a different name will be better? Besides, How is it the largest fleet overhaul when they did that under FGW in 2007-2010 - when half the fleet is due to be replaced!
Just realised that what I quoted was in the first post - whoops! didn't see that, honest
I guess it's no different to "building a greater west" as displayed at every station in Devon and Cornwall, really referring to the M4 corridor, with practically none of the investment is coming down here, and the biggest one is still years away (Cornwall/Plymouth resignalling). Still no answer to what is going to be done about Dawlish, let alone any other meaningful upgrades
Even the AT300s seem to be more of a benefit for FGW than for us. It means not having to spend money making the HSTs disability compliant, and it means they can simplify their operations since all of their intercity trains will be almost exactly the same, and fully supported by the manufacturer. Just like the resignalling really.
When will you be applying for your name change to gwrrich?
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Not surprising. It's not as if it's been known for the past 5 years that England and Wales is hosting the Rugby World Cup - What with matches taking place at Kingsholm in Gloucester, Sandy Park on the Exmouth line and Cardiffs millennium stadium to take into account for, this is no ordinary 6 Nstions type weekend!
Their Journey Check isn't very helpful either, earlier reading " Major delays between London Paddington and Cardiff Central. Due to overcrowding because of a sporting event between London Paddington and Cardiff Central Trains have to run at reduced speed on the lines" coupled with the usual signalling issues in the Thames Valley through Slough again.
So, Goes Wrong Repeatedly?
Name change? It'll happen, I've been meaning to change it to something more useful for a while now actually. No expensive rebrands and promises of mass transformation coming from me I can tell you! My posts may improve though, who knows?
irish_rail
On Moderation
Well the two painted 57s are at Laira now, both with cast metal GWR logos bolted to the side. Looking at 43187 + 188, also green and at Laira, either end of an all green set, they may well have metal logos too, (though the logos are currently covered over so unsure).
also of note, the powercar running number is no longer displayed under the drivers window, but towards the back of the power car near the luggage door!
313103
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How much is this re-branding costing? who is paying for it? more importantly WHY?
Don't know. Unless something very odd happens the TOC has to pay for re-branding exercises. Perhaps the FGW image is considered to be permanently tarnished at this point?
I still wonder why, It's won Train Operator of the Year at least once if not more, and has done well with the Channel 5 series as well bringing it more media attention and i'm sure a following. Trying to claim the glory days of Brunel and Building on it with NRs / DFTs money as their own however.
I really don't get the number positioning on this gWr stuff First are playing at - It looks a mess on the Turbos with the number booted out of the way for the gWr sticker, looks odd on the oddly placed 57/6 fleet and moving it to the luggage van door on a HST PC seems pointless. I pointed out that to the designers and those responsible for the rebrand that if your a depot tech, and you have to find the number of an affected vehicle in a dark depot on a winters night such as Long Rock (add in Sea Fog for LR & LA), the current set up on the FGW stock works just fine. Moving it around, playing with the colour et all really is showing up style over substance for the sake of it. To my eyes, the livery looks like an unbalanced mess as it is, whereas the smarter Blue was simple style and substance.
And if anyone doubt's what I've said - you try identifying rolling stock coach / vehicle numbers in a depot in the dark!
Why not? We've already had four GWT/FGW liveries since privatisation, plus Wessex and Thames Trains' efforts as well.
The random livery-generating genie was let out of the bottle by privatisation and unless a universal clause requiring operators to use a stipulated livery is applied in franchises, then this will carry on. Scotrail (and London bus operators) are subject to such clauses but what liveries would you impose elsewhere?
And please don't say chocolate and cream...
Brown and Cream, actually.
Just by coincidence I used my bookmark to access the FGW page this morning and got a 404! A couple of hours later they fixed it with a redirect. Another one for the agenda of 'what went wrong' tomorrow?:roll:
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That gas happened to me before at Surbiton a couple of times. The 18.40 is rarely on time. During one set of disruptions I thought it would be late if not later than usual no the Exeter train was started from Basingstoke and the train I catch actually left Waterloo on tine so it was on time at Surbiton and I missed it! Lol.
A couple of times at Harrow the 17.59 to East Croydon has left early because the guard isn't use to arriving before the departure time, the 17.54 to Euston nearly always delaying that service.
What do you mean by Government Money exactly? Is there such a thing.
Could that be the taxpayer per chance. You know, the guy who gives all these "private funded initiatives" to the Government.
Actually I think an argument could be made that the genie was let out of the bottle by sectorisation and privatisation just gave it room to grow.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I would agree - it has a terrible reputation. However if I were First I'd have waited until the IEPs were along, and planned a rebrand coinciding with actual service improvements. There is otherwise a risk that fGW's bad reputation for punctuality, reliability and overcrowding will continue over to GWR, just as Virgin West Coast had a hard job shaking off their awful reputation based on the poor punctuality and reliability of InterCity West Coast pre-PUG.
313103
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I suppose you have a point there, i noticed today a set (well most of the set) with the squigly lines missing) in all blue which actually looks for better then adding vinyls and looks just like the power cars. Better then that dark green colour they are going to use.
London Underground and Overground are also subject to the stipulated livery that is applied to London Buses (unless its an all over advert which seems to the big in thing on Borismasters).
That is the latest set back from refurbishment.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
The reliveried HST or the "Sludge Set" as it has been nicknamed, should have worked 07 15 Paddington to Cardiff this morning in a blaze of glory and then 09 55 return.
Trains subsequently cancelled due failure of Turbo at Ealing
Trains subsequently cancelled due failure of Turbo at Ealing
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And not just any old Turbo either but the green pair as well! Great start to the launch, The GWR. Taking you to...Ealing!
By who? You? [citation needed]
Can anyone confirm all stations will receive brand new generic signage like southern london midland and southeastern as I believe has happened at bramley?
Also is all fgw branding being removed from trains and are squiggle lines and local place names being removed from the west fleet ??
Also is all fgw branding being removed from trains and are squiggle lines and local place names being removed from the west fleet ??
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
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