Transdev Blazefield

[SCH117X]

Whats the vehicle in the background of the bottom right photo in that tweet?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Whats the vehicle in the background of the bottom right photo in that tweet?

A bit of detective work

Rosso 204 (PO53OBR) 04062015b

In April 2015 Rossendale Transport 204 (PO53OBR), a Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban 44 seat bodywork, was refurbished and repainted in a special livery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli conflict at which six members of the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers...

www.flickr.com

 

[SCH117X]

A bit of detective work

Thanks.
The Versa at Starbeck would appear to be 214 as all the others are parked up bar 210 which has seen use on the 181 / Castleline. 214 however for some reason is not tracking so no 22 workings show up on the Transdev Go app and the combined data at Bustimes has its last use as being on 27 March.

 

[RustySpoons]

PO53OBR (1710 I believe in new money) seemed to be a regular on Burnley local routes shortly before timetables were decimated due to Covid.

It was looking very rough!

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

PO53OBR (1710 I believe in new money) seemed to be a regular on Burnley local routes shortly before timetables were decimated due to Covid.

It was looking very rough!

It’s definitely reached the point of either restoration or permanent withdrawal, the roof leaks through light fittings too...

 

[RustySpoons]

Another variation of a local livery now graces two of the ex-Witch Way B9s that are now living at Harrogate.



https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/1260997405824225280?s=20

One slightly amusing thing is the image of a bus they've used is very similar to one that is almost universally featured on bus stops throughout the country, which Ray Stenning is often very vocal about saying it's outdated and does nothing to 'create desire' or encourage bus use. Yet here he is using it on one of his designs... It's this type of hypocrisy that annoys me the most.

Aside from that I think it looks pretty good, especially from the back. Big and bold branding really works well on the back of these buses.

There were a few this batch of B9s that had a bit of a spruce up when they were on the Witch Way, can't remember fleet numbers but think there were two or three of them. Instead of all the ticket advertising and cheesy slogans it just said 'every 15 mins' in big letters with Burnley to Manchester underneath it with a couple of worker bees flying around. Simple, direct and straight to the point. It showed up just how wordy and needlessly complicated the original rear ends were.

 

[Man of Kent]

Ray Stenning is often very vocal about saying it's outdated and does nothing to 'create desire' or encourage bus use. Yet here he is using it on one of his designs... It's this type of hypocrisy that annoys me the most.

Though Blazefield has long had its own marketing team that produces high quality promotional material that appears similar to that of Best Impressions. So there is no certainty that this design originated in Shepherds Bush at all.

 

[RustySpoons]

Though Blazefield has long had its own marketing team that produces high quality promotional material that appears similar to that of Best Impressions. So there is no certainty that this design originated in Shepherds Bush at all.

BI was certainly involved. As you say though they can produce some brilliant stuff in house, it's a shame they can't seem to have free reign over livery/branding without Stenning and Co as the talent is certainly there.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think it is Best Impressions. However, the criticism about the bus pictogram..... The classic one is based on a 36' BET single decker. That does look different - I mean, there are limits to what a 2D pictogram of a bus can look like.

You may say the talent is there, but I think you underestimate the sheer work in creating a cohesive marketing strategy. One thing to knock up a few updated timetables and infographics in the office but there's a lot more that BI provide, as @PhilStockley so kindly illustrated a few months ago.

 

[Swimbar]

I think it is Best Impressions. However, the criticism about the bus pictogram..... The classic one is based on a 36' BET single decker. That does look different - I mean, there are limits to what a 2D pictogram of a bus can look like.

You may say the talent is there, but I think you underestimate the sheer work in creating a cohesive marketing strategy. One thing to knock up a few updated timetables and infographics in the office but there's a lot more that BI provide, as @PhilStockley so kindly illustrated a few months ago.

Given that they are presumably drawing funds from HM Government at the moment, to keep services running, is this expense justifiable at this time?

 

[RustySpoons]

Given that they are presumably drawing funds from HM Government at the moment, to keep services running, is this expense justifiable at this time?

Bear in mind though that these buses were due to move over to Harrogate before the pandemic hit hard and services were cut so were probably booked in for a repaint anyway. This particular design could probably have been inspired somewhat by current events, but cost wise it's unlikely to have cost anything different than a standard repaint, just a few extra vinyl stickers.

The only ones that didn't really need to be done are the 'hero buses', but as these aren't much more than a few vinyls over existing livery it won't have been all that much cost wise. And as they're rolling these buses out every Thursday to film people clapping next to them it could be seen as a justifiable expense.

There's also the Double Decker coloured Pendle Wizz buses that are being/have been repainted, but as with the B9s at Harrogate they were due to be repainted anyway.

With the majority of the fleet out of action it makes sense to get things ready for when things slowly get back to normal... whenever that may be!

 

[SCH117X]

Also the double deckers can cope with increased demand on services without necessarily having the to run duplicates unlike Rossos 464 which has two Versas running together on some workings to allow for social distancing

 

[SCH117X]

And a Tockwith based operator has had their say on the branding, kiddies playtime again

Well they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
First of all it’s using a name we have as a limited company, now using our we❤️Harrogate logos!
Jamie, our in house marketer should be proud-
Don’t be fooled! There is only one locally owned bus company in Harrogate. There is only one Family owned bus company in Harrogate.
We are here to serve the people of Harrogate, Leeds, York, Wetherby and environs- to us it isn’t a job, it’s a passion. Our directors (who are husband and wife) have between them over 50 years experience of public transport in Harrogate They started this business. It is their baby, they are not employed by a huge multi-national with head offices Overseas.
At times like these, local business is very important-
We source everything we can locally- we use a Vinyl company from Harrogate, we use printers in Harrogate, we get our cleaning materials from Ripon, we get our workshop equipment supplies from a company in Starbeck.... and so it continues.
Please support your local independent businesses - connexionsbuses is just one of these- local shops, local newsagents all need your help now!
#buylocal

 

[RustySpoons]

Not sure I see the similarities really.



If it wasn't for CX's post I can honestly say I wouldn't have noticed that Transdev had used 'their' we [heart] Harrogate logo or even made a connection. They don't even look alike for one thing. I wonder if there'll be a similar message popping up on green and white buses that serve Harrogate?

It's no different to the various 'WeLoveMCR' logos and messages Manchester based operators use. No one 'owns' it.

 

[Stan Drews]

I assume the “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” line doesn’t apply to a local, family owned company that changed from their green and white colours, to red and green to look awfully similar to the “huge multi-national” that provides the competing routes?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not sure I see the similarities really.

View attachment 77948

If it wasn't for CX's post I can honestly say I wouldn't have noticed that Transdev had used 'their' we [heart] Harrogate logo or even made a connection. They don't even look alike for one thing. I wonder if there'll be a similar message popping up on green and white buses that serve Harrogate?

It's no different to the various 'WeLoveMCR' logos and messages Manchester based operators use. No one 'owns' it.

I do agree with you. The "heart" thing is pretty commonplace. The NHS heart logos have appeared on a number of fleets as well.

I assume the “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” line doesn’t apply to a local, family owned company that changed from their green and white colours, to red and green to look awfully similar to the “huge multi-national” that provides the competing routes?

I don't know if that's quite fair. Weren't they ex GNE vehicles and they just painted the blue bit green as a cheap exercise rather than a changing of their colours per se?

 

[Stan Drews]

I do agree with you. The "heart" thing is pretty commonplace. The NHS heart logos have appeared on a number of fleets as well.



I don't know if that's quite fair. Weren't they ex GNE vehicles and they just painted the blue bit green as a cheap exercise rather than a changing of their colours per se?

They were indeed from GNE, but you’d have thought with their hatred of all things red around Harrogate, they’d have used them elsewhere to keep the green flag flying, rather than branding them for the X1.
I just find it all very amusing that such bitterness regularly seems to influence important business decisions, but I’ll happily watch from afar!

 

[JetBlast]

Is it me or does Harrogate seem to get better treatment than other areas of the network? For example Rosso received some cascaded deckers from the coastliner. They didn't get a repaint. However the ones arriving into Harrogate from the Witchway do?

Has anything been introduced to replace these busses that have been pulled from the Wichway please?

 

[M60lad]

The Wichway was supposedly getting brand new MMC400s from what I can gather but with lockdown and the recent shutdown of various businesses I'm not to sure whether any of these have been delivered or indeed built yet.

As we dont know what kind of service will operate after lockdown is over its going to be interesting what will be used on X43

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

With the separation of the X43 route, there still should be enough WW deckers to cover Burnley-Manchester, maybe with the addition of a couple of PoTN from other depots

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With the separation of the X43 route, there still should be enough WW deckers to cover Burnley-Manchester, maybe with the addition of a couple of PoTN from other depots

Surely, the situation is probably akin to this....

• New fleet due for X43 - lower number required because of truncation of the route, allowing cascade of vehicles to other operations
• Fewer fleet required currently so they can release some of the cascades early for repainting
• Therefore, a couple released for Harrogate is fine and when the new WW fleet is received, then the remainder can go

 

[Andyh82]

It is thought that spare Red Express buses will back fill on the Witch Way for a short time if required.

The Red Express now being operated by the ex-Red 4 single decks.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It is thought that spare Red Express buses will back fill on the Witch Way for a short time if required.

The Red Express now being operated by the ex-Red 4 single decks.

Guess that makes sense.

 

[Stan Drews]

Is it me or does Harrogate seem to get better treatment than other areas of the network? For example Rosso received some cascaded deckers from the coastliner. They didn't get a repaint. However the ones arriving into Harrogate from the Witchway do?

Has anything been introduced to replace these busses that have been pulled from the Wichway please?

The ex Coastliner buses that Rosso received were to maintain TfGM age requirements on school contracts, so probably no justification for a refurbishment or repaint at the time. I assume these ex Witches at Harrogate are going to see use on front line services, or at least as spares for them.

 

[JetBlast]

The ex Coastliner buses that Rosso received were to maintain TfGM age requirements on school contracts, so probably no justification for a refurbishment or repaint at the time. I assume these ex Witches at Harrogate are going to see use on front line services, or at least as spares for them.

They are also used on front line services (during normal times). They are used on the FastTrax service - the colour of the bus is even advertised on the timetable. They are also in use on other services.

There are also heaps of busses in old liveries that need attention.

The "new" Enviro 400 deckers that entered the fleet were PON livery.

Some of the Rosso bus have had the legals changed to Burnely and Pendle.

The 464 & Irwell Line services don't have any Rosso branding.

All these things make me think that Rosso isn't an important brand to them and that it will eventually go.

 

[Andyh82]

Branded buses don’t tend to have the operator brand name on, they just say ‘by Transdev’

You won’t see The Burnley Bus Company logo on the Witch Way or Mainline, so Rosso is no different.

 

[JetBlast]

You do have a point there. Something I hadn't observed.

 

[SCH117X]

All Transdev Blazefield depots get at times vehicles in wrong colours - Harrogate previously had Lancs Utd B10BLEs in use before repainting. In the case of ex Coastliner vehicles they have used the livery to route brand a service. Take the electrics and B5 and B9 double deckers away and the Harrogate fleet is 11 years old or more and many of the key Route 1 vehicles are 16 years old which hardly indicates any special preference.

 

[RustySpoons]

Appears the new Witches and Zaps could also feature a new moquette...

https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/1262428445553897473?s=20



Easy to assume that the dull looking grey and orange EasyJet-esque one is for Burnley, so process of elimination would say the retina melting red 1970s sofa fabric is for Zap.

Hopefully they'll be retaining at least part leather seats of some description, similar to the Coastliner B5s otherwise things might look a little dull and dreary at one side of the Pennines and slightly garish over the other.

 

[Alexbus12]

Easy to assume that the dull looking grey and orange EasyJet-esque one is for Burnley, so process of elimination would say the retina melting red 1970s sofa fabric is for Zap.