Pat1105
Member
Thought I’d create a thread to share opinions on the ugliest liveries. For starters, I think that the Ipswich Buses livery is awful. The purple and green colours really don’t go together.
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Ugliest Bus Liveries
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Jordan Adam
Established Member
All the new Stagecoach schemes...
I would have to agree about Ipswich Buses - Purple and Green don't work together (they never really have) and they do clash horribly.
Other's I would have to include on my list are:
The former Thamesdown / now "Swindons Bus Company" - The base of it is fairly simple and smart, but it's ruined by the red sash needlessly cutting into the Swindon logo.
The current:
www.flickr.com
Or Thamesdown's rather insipid Blue & Mint scheme:
The new East Yorkshire livery - The base of that is fairly simple, it's effectively a northern version of the Brighton and Hove scheme. But I really do dislike the wavey curvy bits in different shades of brown.
Plymouth Citybus's standard base red - The newer "Flash" schemes are smart, but PCB seem to have this habit of using one base red scheme, then changing it, then changing it again, by which time the first version ends up looking scruffy and tired.
www.flickr.com
First Bus "Barbie 2". The "Barbie" Scheme has always been somewhat controversial, although I actually rather like it. But, why oh why did they have to come up with that "Fading" effect. It was dreadful and instantly dated any vehicle unlucky enough to be put into it, from the humble Bristol VR to the then relatively new Pointer Dart.
and finally, Stagecoach's awful new scheme. I was stood in Winchester last week when I saw the new scheme side by side next to another "Kings City" vehicle. It really is bland, ill thought out, cheap looking and unlike the new iterations of the First Group scheme, doesn't feel like it has any local connection at all. It sits awkwardly on some vehicles, and from looking at the back of some, doesn't seem easy to apply either - you only have to see the mismatched lines and curves to see that. I would also say it is a lesson Stagecoach need to learn as First found out with the "Olympia" scheme - the almost Art Deco stylised flying F has since been dropped with their further simplified livery.
Other's I would have to include on my list are:
The former Thamesdown / now "Swindons Bus Company" - The base of it is fairly simple and smart, but it's ruined by the red sash needlessly cutting into the Swindon logo.
The current:
Thamesdown Swindons Bus Company 219 OY16JVZ
www.flickr.com
Or Thamesdown's rather insipid Blue & Mint scheme:
The new East Yorkshire livery - The base of that is fairly simple, it's effectively a northern version of the Brighton and Hove scheme. But I really do dislike the wavey curvy bits in different shades of brown.
Plymouth Citybus's standard base red - The newer "Flash" schemes are smart, but PCB seem to have this habit of using one base red scheme, then changing it, then changing it again, by which time the first version ends up looking scruffy and tired.
Plymouth Citybus 5 N105UTT - Royal Parade
Explore KA Transport Photography's 24987 photos on Flickr!
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First Bus "Barbie 2". The "Barbie" Scheme has always been somewhat controversial, although I actually rather like it. But, why oh why did they have to come up with that "Fading" effect. It was dreadful and instantly dated any vehicle unlucky enough to be put into it, from the humble Bristol VR to the then relatively new Pointer Dart.
and finally, Stagecoach's awful new scheme. I was stood in Winchester last week when I saw the new scheme side by side next to another "Kings City" vehicle. It really is bland, ill thought out, cheap looking and unlike the new iterations of the First Group scheme, doesn't feel like it has any local connection at all. It sits awkwardly on some vehicles, and from looking at the back of some, doesn't seem easy to apply either - you only have to see the mismatched lines and curves to see that. I would also say it is a lesson Stagecoach need to learn as First found out with the "Olympia" scheme - the almost Art Deco stylised flying F has since been dropped with their further simplified livery.
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+1 on this.
Barbie 2? I think it was? The cheap vinyl version with the fade applied by First looked terrible when first applied and only got worse with age. Not that First have graced us with many good ones let's be honest but that was rancid.
Lothian's / LCB / ECB FOTF angular livery looks terrible on the original fronted Eclipses and Geminis - it just doesn't sit with the curves at all but it suits more modern types so my issue isn't with the livery it's the tasteless application of it I suppose.
I was trying hard not to include Go NorthEast into my list - In part because it's difficult due to the many iterations of route branding they have had. But it's hard not to when you see liveries such as "The Loop" - Black / White / Pink / Green. Ouch.
www.flickr.com
Go North East: 5223 / NK54NVW
Go North East's 5223 (NK54 NVW), Scania L94UB/Wright Solar, carrying its "Loop" branding, and is pictured here at Gateshead Transport Interchange, Gateshead, whilst working "Loop" service 93 to Gateshead. 18/01/14 "Loop" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5220 (NK54 NVT) is pictured in the...
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Statto
Established Member
The new Arriva light blue livery is awful
I don't like the National Express West Midlands liveries either
I don't like the National Express West Midlands liveries either
OmniCity999
Established Member
To be fair, it wouldn't be as bad if the white was a different colour...
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Agree on Arriva but I quite like the NXWM ones.
Ones that I really didn't like....
The original Cambus (for the same reasons as the new Arriva)
Cambus 617 KPW406L
This is the VR that ended her days making the news in the name of railway safety.
www.flickr.com
The Milton Keynes Citybus light grey and primrose
Midland Red North had a couple. The all red with gold might have been ok but it faded badly
Midland Red North 890 GMB 390T.
Seen at Oswestry Bus Station operating the Welshpool service. Oswestry Bus Station - 2000. To see the full collection: www.busphotosuk.co.uk. For photos available for purchase: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/busphotosuk
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and this one from c.1986
MIDLAND RED NORTH 686 TOF686S LEYLAND NATIONAL, SHREWSBURY 87
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OmniCity999
Established Member
Essentially its entirely subjective...
Jordan Adam
Established Member
No it would probably look worse, i don't have any issues with the colours, even if the shade of white picked makes their buses look like kitchen appliances, it's the actual template and shoddy application. It should be a crime to paint the area above the windows on a E200MMC white!
First Bus 'Olympia' probably the worst colour scheme ever devised.
Ipswich - as others have said.
sadly the new Stagecoach scheme, take a classic strong identity and replace it with something so bland and wishy-washy it looks like brand of super-cheap budget biscuits manufactured in Romania that taste like cardboard and are on offer 2 for 1 in LIDL or ALDI. Allover white would be more attractive, makes even the new Arriva light blue scheme look stylish.
Ipswich - as others have said.
sadly the new Stagecoach scheme, take a classic strong identity and replace it with something so bland and wishy-washy it looks like brand of super-cheap budget biscuits manufactured in Romania that taste like cardboard and are on offer 2 for 1 in LIDL or ALDI. Allover white would be more attractive, makes even the new Arriva light blue scheme look stylish.
GusB
Established Member
Let's not get bogged down with in-depth discussion about the new Stagecoach liveries please. We already have an ongoing debate in the Stagecoach Rebrand thread. Thanks 
cnjb8
Established Member
I would have to agree about Ipswich Buses - Purple and Green don't work together (they never really have) and they do clash horribly.
Other's I would have to include on my list are:
The former Thamesdown / now "Swindons Bus Company" - The base of it is fairly simple and smart, but it's ruined by the red sash needlessly cutting into the Swindon logo.
The new East Yorkshire livery - The base of that is fairly simple, it's effectively a northern version of the Brighton and Hove scheme. But I really do dislike the wavey curvy bits in different shades of brown.
Plymouth Citybus's standard base red - The newer "Flash" schemes are smart, but PCB seem to have this habit of using one base red scheme, then changing it, then changing it again, by which time the first version ends up looking scruffy and tired.
First Bus "Barbie 2". The "Barbie" Scheme has always been somewhat controversial, although I actually rather like it. But, why oh why did they have to come up with that "Fading" effect. It was dreadful and instantly dated any vehicle unlucky enough to be put into it, from the humble Bristol VR to the then relatively new Pointer Dart.
and finally, Stagecoach's awful new scheme. I was stood in Winchester last week when I saw the new scheme side by side next to another "Kings City" vehicle. It really is bland, ill thought out, cheap looking and unlike the new iterations of the First Group scheme, doesn't feel like it has any local connection at all. It sits awkwardly on some vehicles, and from looking at the back of some, doesn't seem easy to apply either - you only have to see the mismatched lines and curves to see that. I would also say it is a lesson Stagecoach need to learn as First found out with the "Olympia" scheme - the almost Art Deco stylised flying F has since been dropped with their further simplified livery.
I have to say I disagree with a lot of this, sorry
Which makes this right:
I think Transdev's 36 livery is overrated because it's a bit bland for me.
The new Star livery in Portsmouth looks like something TrentBarton would have painted one their Excels!
The First Aberdeen green livery doesn't sit well with me.
I don't like operators that seemed to copy the old Lothian livery, such as Yourbus (defunct), JMB Travel and NatEx West Midlands, but I do like the NatEx livery.
CBlue
Member
First Barbie II and the later "Barbie 80's" style livery with the coloured front ends was pretty terrible. Especially when First Ipswich painted their fleet with dark grey fronts...
The old Blue/Red/White striped Travel West Midlands livery always sat on buses pretty awkwardly in my view and seemed to get scruffy very, very quickly, although the version used in Coventry looked a bit better due to the colours they used.
Top prize for ugly though has to go to the City Sightseeing livery. Nasty font and silly "graffiti" style graphics on a dull red base colour...it looked outdated 10 years ago.
The old Blue/Red/White striped Travel West Midlands livery always sat on buses pretty awkwardly in my view and seemed to get scruffy very, very quickly, although the version used in Coventry looked a bit better due to the colours they used.
Top prize for ugly though has to go to the City Sightseeing livery. Nasty font and silly "graffiti" style graphics on a dull red base colour...it looked outdated 10 years ago.
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
Of course, that's the fun though!
The new Arriva livery surely has to win any ugly awards though?
The new East Yorkshire livery is bad enough, but how they've crowbarred the Coaster route-branding on to it is beyond awful.
East Yorkshire 781
The new best impressions East Yorkshire / Go-ahead reprints seems to be going well, with 781 beloved to be on its way to Anlaby Road from Blackburn after been at Bus &. coach world for refurbishment and Repaint into the Coaster brand. I do believe that this is the first photo of 781 in its new...
www.flickr.com
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think you mean the Urban livery with the coloured fronts?
Don't know which West Midlands one you meant? If it was the first NX one with a colour slash, then it did look bad very quickly https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcr...-2j1DZ1H-MUWW86-KmQYHc-Jkxiyd-2j2fEN5-R7cPJZ/
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
I think they meant the old red, white and blue livery, which made everything look tired:
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF)
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF), seen here on it's first garage transfer, even though it is 20 years old at the time, is seen on Bull Street in Birmingham on the 55 to Chelmsley Wood. I remember riding 3080 in the 14A and it was still in very good condition upstairs, from...
www.flickr.com
ETA: Actually, I think they mean this one. My eyes, they burn:
Travel West Midlands Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 4341 (BX02 AUP)
Pool Meadow Bus Station, Coventry
www.flickr.com
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think they meant the old red, white and blue livery, which made everything look tired:
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF)
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF), seen here on it's first garage transfer, even though it is 20 years old at the time, is seen on Bull Street in Birmingham on the 55 to Chelmsley Wood. I remember riding 3080 in the 14A and it was still in very good condition upstairs, from...
ETA: Actually, I think they mean this one. My eyes, they burn:
Travel West Midlands Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 4341 (BX02 AUP)
Pool Meadow Bus Station, Coventry
I did wonder if it might be the first TWM livery with the red, white and blue? IMHO, it looked fine on newer types but not good on the few Metrobuses so treated.
Was never a fan of this scheme used by one of the local operators:
CBlue
Member
Yes, the latter of those two. Admittedly the first NXWM red/white scheme was pretty terrible too - especially as the red faded very quickly.I think they meant the old red, white and blue livery, which made everything look tired:
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF)
Travel West Midlands MCW Metrobus MK2A 3080 (F80 XOF), seen here on it's first garage transfer, even though it is 20 years old at the time, is seen on Bull Street in Birmingham on the 55 to Chelmsley Wood. I remember riding 3080 in the 14A and it was still in very good condition upstairs, from...
ETA: Actually, I think they mean this one. My eyes, they burn:
Travel West Midlands Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 4341 (BX02 AUP)
Pool Meadow Bus Station, Coventry
Was never a fan of this scheme used by one of the local operators:
Dazzle camouflage? I wasn't aware buses were subject to U-boat attacks in Glasgow!
RustySpoons
Member
- Joined
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- 868
The new East Yorkshire livery is bad enough, but how they've crowbarred the Coaster route-branding on to it is beyond awful.
East Yorkshire 781
The new best impressions East Yorkshire / Go-ahead reprints seems to be going well, with 781 beloved to be on its way to Anlaby Road from Blackburn after been at Bus &. coach world for refurbishment and Repaint into the Coaster brand. I do believe that this is the first photo of 781 in its new...
That's high up, if not top, on my most awful list. Not a fan of the standard new livery. Too many swoops and colours. This just adds more colours and swoops along with straight lines that just don't cohere with one another or follow the lines of the bus at all. Bloody awful!
I almost agree with you there, It's certainly a very dull livery scheme but the yellow swoosh is kept fairly minimal compared to the swoops and swooshes of East Yorkshires new scheme.
That said, it's a more classy and simplified scheme that the previous incarnations.
Flange Squeal
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 Jul 2012
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- 1,857
I’m not keen on the red/white used by Rotala’s Hallmark on their Surrey routes - it just looks a bit ‘unfinished’ to me.
Another, and not too dissimilar actually, is the Nexus contracted livery around Newcastle. Just think it looks quite dull.
flic.kr
Another, and not too dissimilar actually, is the Nexus contracted livery around Newcastle. Just think it looks quite dull.
Gateshead Central Taxis: SL16YPE
Gateshead Central Taxis - Wright StreetLite WF/Wright StreetLite - SL16 YPE is seen here at Wrekenton, High Street operating service 68 to Bill Quay on June 2nd 2016.
flic.kr
I seem to hate any bus painted black.
I think the Rosso 646 livery is awful. The font they use for the numbers isn't great either.
www.flickr.com
I think the Rosso 646 livery is awful. The font they use for the numbers isn't great either.
First day into service for Transdev Rosso is 282 YJ68FWG leaving Accrington Bus station with a 464 service to Rochdale.
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Sankey Wire
Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2016
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- 69
Any of the cut-and-paste “x Town’s Own Buses” liveries.
I agree, and the previous black and yellow was horrible as well
I quite like new EY scheme, the previous EYMS livery was getting very dated and the more recent schemes they were coming up with, such as this, just looked odd
EYMS 773 YX59FGZ
EYMS Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B9 773 in Prospect Street, Hull just after starting its journey to Withernsea.
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py_megapixel
Established Member
I actually quite like that livery. Though I do agree with most of your other assertions.The new East Yorkshire livery - The base of that is fairly simple, it's effectively a northern version of the Brighton and Hove scheme. But I really do dislike the wavey curvy bits in different shades of brown.
Personally I can't stand First Barbie.
py_megapixel
Established Member
That livery looks dreadful... I hate the way other features overlap the route number like that...I seem to hate any bus painted black.
I think the Rosso 646 livery is awful. The font they use for the numbers isn't great either.
First day into service for Transdev Rosso is 282 YJ68FWG leaving Accrington Bus station with a 464 service to Rochdale.
Explore Gobbiner's 13435 photos on Flickr!
Honestly I hate route specific liveries in general.
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