TOC's embedded trains...

[GNERman]

I, as many of you have probably noticed, have seen that some TOC's are giving their trains a company image.
Let me take for example the Virgin Voyager. When Virgin ordered them they gave the trains the 'Virgin touch.' Let me explain. On the front there was a large metal Virgin logo and on the interior there is the radio in the middle of the seats, with Virgin radio on.
Now surely this is very harsh on XC. They have removed the emblem leaving a big indent and the radio is still there.
I have also noticed FGW. The seats they have put on have the sily first dynamic lines motif.
Now First do own some HST's and Mk 3 coaches but this again is surely harsh as if first don't win the next great western franchise then whoever does it will be quite hard.e
Any thoughts?...

 

[thefab444]

I wouldn't call it harsh, it's just brand reinforcement.

I doubt those radios on the XC Voyagers work anyway.

 

[Snapper]

Now surely this is very harsh on XC. They have removed the emblem leaving a big indent

There's no indent: The badges were just stuck on. All that remained when they were taken off would be a sticky patch.

 

[asylumxl]

There's no indent: The badges were just stuck on. All that remained when they were taken off would be a sticky patch.

Actually, all thats visible is a less faded patch of paint

 

[222001]

It's strange with the Meridians as they were tailored for Midland Mainline but I think they suit East Midlands Trains better with the red and orange carpets!

 

[NickM]

Surely its not hugely different to companies applying their own brand in general

 

[MCR247]

I, as many of you have probably noticed, have seen that some TOC's are giving their trains a company image.
Let me take for example the Virgin Voyager. When Virgin ordered them they gave the trains the 'Virgin touch.' Let me explain. On the front there was a large metal Virgin logo and on the interior there is the radio in the middle of the seats, with Virgin radio on.
Now surely this is very harsh on XC. They have removed the emblem leaving a big indent and the radio is still there.
I have also noticed FGW. The seats they have put on have the sily first dynamic lines motif.
Now First do own some HST's and Mk 3 coaches but this again is surely harsh as if first don't win the next great western franchise then whoever does it will be quite hard.e
Any thoughts?...

Yeah, but a seating motif is easily replaced, whether the next TOC wants to remove it, thats their choice.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
GNERman, i'm suprised you didnt mention the FGE 360s, are they were painted in ant vandal paint or something I think, so it would require a complete sand down to repaint i think. Thats why they werent in One livery.

 

[37401]

GNERman, i'm suprised you didnt mention the FGE 360s, are they were painted in ant vandal paint or something I think, so it would require a complete sand down to repaint i think. Thats why they werent in One livery.

350`s wernt delivered in the TOC`s livery ether

 

[90019]

I, as many of you have probably noticed, have seen that some TOC's are giving their trains a company image.

Just like other businesses. Bus companies for example.

Now surely this is very harsh on XC. They have removed the emblem leaving a big indent and the radio is still there.

It only left a patch of less faded yellow paint on the front.

have also noticed FGW. The seats they have put on have the sily first dynamic lines motif.
Now First do own some HST's and Mk 3 coaches but this again is surely harsh as if first don't win the next great western franchise then whoever does it will be quite hard

Why?
Should the trains not be painted in FGW livery either then? :?
I really don't understand where you're coming from on this; it's just simple corporate branding, and it's the same in almost every other industry.
To go back to the bus companies, is it harsh on whoever they sell the buses on to because they're painted in the colours of the previous company and/or have the logo or whatever of the previous company on the seats?

 

[MCR247]

350`s wernt delivered in the TOC`s livery ether

Thats cos they were both CT & Silverlinks. What i meant was, FGE got the 360s, but when the 360s were handed over to 'One', they were still in FGE livery, and most still are, because FGE w
used antivandal paint

 

[87015]

Depends if you think the seemingly endless repainting/restickering/rebranding is a sensible use of cash.

 

[Pumbaa]

I'm fine with corporate branding, the only exception that really irritates me is non-replaceable goods. On the fGW HSTs, there is a flying f on the back of every standard class seat in the plastic. Whoever takes on the franchise next has to either replace every seat or make do with the flying f. Grr.

 

[me123]

I'd like to see more of what's happening with Scotrail; a brand that will not change. It'll save a lot of money rebranding the trains with every franchise.

I'm not sure if it's feasible; multiple TOCs in England mean that national livery isn't viable for anything except ATW, and coming up with a different livery for each TOC would be time consuming. Maybe for the un-branded ones like London Midland they could just use the livery they've already got, although I'm sure Govia wouldn't be too happy about that.

 

[GNERman]

Why?
Should the trains not be painted in FGW livery either then? :?
I really don't understand where you're coming from on this; it's just simple corporate branding, and it's the same in almost every other industry.To go back to the bus companies, is it harsh on whoever they sell the buses on to because they're painted in the colours of the previous company and/or have the logo or whatever of the previous company on the seats?

What i am TRYING to say is i don't like how new trains are getting fancy interiors with the TOC's names all over it. Virgin with the radio seat thing is a great example as Arriva passengers get to listen to a competitors radio station. I don't think Arrive will be pleased...

Plus buses are mainly OWNED by the company (excluding National Express who mainly lease...)

Originally Posted by MCR247
GNERman, i'm suprised you didnt mention the FGE 360s, are they were painted in ant vandal paint or something I think, so it would require a complete sand down to repaint i think. Thats why they werent in One livery.

I didn't know - I have never travelled on a 360 before - seen em though...

Originally Posted by 90019
Just like other businesses. Bus companies for example.

We DO already know this - thanks...

I am not trying to talk about the livery etc - i am trying to talk about how companies put their own small little emblems etc - virgin radios, fgw seating, GC Marilyn Munroe emblems even - but GC isn't a franchise so that's not a problem...

 

[MCR247]

but they do that so you travel with them! So, you'd rather just have a palin old train on every route!

'Shall we make a new livery boss?'
'NO! We need to bare in mind the next person to take over the franchise'
'I know! They could announce the franchise winners early, so we can start painting them for 'em!'
'Great Idea!'

I know thats extended from what youre saying, but thats where it'd end up

 

[GNERman]

yeah but like i said it's not the livery it's just more money and oil and resources that must be spent on re - liveried trains, i like the environment - by the way...

 

[90019]

What i am TRYING to say is i don't like how new trains are getting fancy interiors with the TOC's names all over it. Virgin with the radio seat thing is a great example as Arriva passengers get to listen to a competitors radio station. I don't think Arrive will be pleased...

They'll just disable them, it's not like it'll be that challenging. They could even retune them if they really wanted to.

 

[A60K]

How is Virgin Radio in competition with Arriva Trains (XC)? Or, indeed, how is Virgin Trains in competition with Arriva Trains?

 

[MCR247]

How is Virgin Radio in competition with Arriva Trains (XC)? Or, indeed, how is Virgin Trains in competition with Arriva Trains?

They are on some routes like Brum - Edinburgh/Glasgow but thats it i think

 

[jopsuk]

Has anyone actually tried the radio system recently? Does it even still work?

I seem to remember that whilst it was active with Virgin it didn't play actual Virgin Radio, but a selection of prerecorded "Virgin Trains Radio" shows and live Radio 4 (which I can remember once being changed for Radio 1 by the train manager...). Virgin Radio was always a completely seperate company- and no longer exists in the UK.