Construction progress: TPE 350/4

[Katada]

I much prefer the simpler liveries, such as London Midland, some of Northern's, and to be honest, Virgin Trains'. Or to be honest, London Undergrond.

Expensive liveries are just that, expensive, they don't look good to start with and will usually only end up looking worse. Block liveries that can be pained on, or a painted basecoat with cut block colours (rather than printed) looks much better than one that looks like a graphics designer has vomited their ideas on the unit. When will these people learn, less is more.

I can tell it has been created by an amateur. The style is pathetic and it's a shame that they are allowed to apply such poor quality graphics to what was a classy grey livery.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Would you buy a car painted like that and would you trust the person who painted it. No chance.

Certainly not. But there again, I would not be requiring a "corporate brand image".

 

[ModernRailways]

Much better than some of the blander liveries like EC or TS&GN anyhow.

EC have to have a livery like that though. It makes it easier to change at the end of the franchise when all you need to do is remove the words 'East Coast' from the exterior!

I quite like the 'bland' liveries. They look smart, and in my view give a better customer image. FGW 125s have a similar style just their MK3s have the FGW lines on them. It's very smart, to the point and nothing overdone. Northern, Southern, SouthEastern etc. all have very similar to the point liveries. There is a company logo, the company logos colours on the outside in a very minimalistic way and the livery is still instantly recognisable. This on the other hand is just a huge mess. It's too busy, and looks like a child was let loose with a paint brush. The colours just don't suit the 350 at all in my view. I fail to see why it couldn't have been left in grey with TPE logos on the side.

 

[Crossover]

The fact that the new variation on the existing livery has been the reason for so many postings upon this thread shows that, at least amongst the forum membership, First TPE have achieved the reaction exactly what was to be expected and caused a brand marketing tool to be successful.

I would have to agree with you on that one!

Certainly not. But there again, I would not be requiring a "corporate brand image".

Some may say you already have one

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Some may say you already have one

You may very well think that, I couldn't possibly comment..

 

[Starmill]

Been posted elsewhere its booked to work the 09:58 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh.

Nobody seen in in real life then? Looks like the 0958 was terminated at Preston :/

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Nobody seen in in real life then? Looks like the 0958 was terminated at Preston :/

Shades of the APT perhaps ?

 

[northwichcat]

Nobody seen in in real life then? Looks like the 0958 was terminated at Preston :/

Not sure which service it was but there was one the ORR said could only be operated if it was operated by a 350 as the path wouldn't allow for a 185.

 

[43074]

EC have to have a livery like that though. It makes it easier to change at the end of the franchise when all you need to do is remove the words 'East Coast' from the exterior!

I quite like the 'bland' liveries. They look smart, and in my view give a better customer image. FGW 125s have a similar style just their MK3s have the FGW lines on them. It's very smart, to the point and nothing overdone. Northern, Southern, SouthEastern etc. all have very similar to the point liveries. There is a company logo, the company logos colours on the outside in a very minimalistic way and the livery is still instantly recognisable. This on the other hand is just a huge mess. It's too busy, and looks like a child was let loose with a paint brush. The colours just don't suit the 350 at all in my view. I fail to see why it couldn't have been left in grey with TPE logos on the side.

I don't mind simple liveries, as GNER had, or Northern have, but I don't like the dominance of plain grey that the DfT are obsessed with as on TSGN or EC. And I know Siemens painted the 350s in grey before anyone corrects me there.

Anyway,back to the 350/4s.

 

[transmanche]

I don't like the dominance of plain grey that the DfT are obsessed with as on TSGN or EC. And I know Siemens painted the 350s in grey before anyone corrects me there.

Is that really down to the DfT? A mainly grey livery has been used before when a 'neutral' livery is used in the run up to a franchise change. WAGN 313s before FCC took over, Silverlink/Central 350s before LM took over, Thameslink 319s before First took over. It saves the outgoing TOC the cost of applying and then removing the vinyls.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I like it alot
I think it would look even better if the stripes were on the lower bodyside, as opposed to through the windows. Much better than some of the blander liveries like EC or TS&GN anyhow.

ÖBB's Railjets actually have the "Railjet" bodyside logo plastered over the windows.
The marketing men were obviously not bothered about passengers actually wanting to use the windows for their designed purpose!
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4085/4959920466_67ed48298a_z.jpg

 

[Starmill]

408 is working 1M99 and the 1758 back from the Airport. No sign of 409, not sure whyit only made it to Preston amd its still 10 minutes late on the way back!

 

[swt_passenger]

...I don't like the dominance of plain grey that the DfT are obsessed with as on TSGN or EC...

I don't think there's any evidence of a "DfT obsession". All that's happened is that one First group TOC, FCC, has decided to have a neutral livery on a small number of recently overhauled units pending franchise award.

Then someone jumped to the conclusion that it was the new livery for all First TOCs, but there's no sign of that happening at all AFAICS...

 

[M60lad]

I was talking to a friend of mine from TPX this weekend and I was informed that some if not all of the 350/4s won't be actually going to London Midland as first thought but they will be going on loan to TPX to strengthen services to/from Scotland during the Commonwealth Games so most services will run as 2x350

 

[Nymanic]

Attached proof of 350408 working the 1758 out of Manchester Airport. It was bang on time as of Eccles, but it looks like it's ten minutes late now.

Do we actually know if 409 ran? I was hoping to see it on the return working to Manchester, but gave it a miss after the diagram entry on Realtimetrains was nowhere to be seen...

First post round these parts. Hopefully not my last.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I was talking to a friend of mine from TPX this weekend and I was informed that some if not all of the 350/4s won't be actually going to London Midland as first thought but they will be going on loan to TPX to strengthen services to/from Scotland during the Commonwealth Games so most services will run as 2x350

I guess you mean 350/3? (the LM units on order).

 

[M60lad]

Yes sorry for the confusion

 

[Starmill]

Attached proof of 350408 working the 1758 out of Manchester Airport. It was bang on time as of Eccles, but it looks like it's ten minutes late now.

Do we actually know if 409 ran? I was hoping to see it on the return working to Manchester, but gave it a miss after the diagram entry on Realtimetrains was nowhere to be seen...

First post round these parts. Hopefully not my last.

I was on that!!!!

Also, do I recognise your username from somewhere else, perhaps?

 

[jonesy3001]

Are TPE doing one a week is 350409 a one-off?

 

[CJ]

350407 was stabled at Piccadilly station tonight on Platform 5 at around 8pm.

 

[Nymanic]

350407 was stabled at Piccadilly station tonight on Platform 5 at around 8pm.

Looks like that was an ECS run to get the train back to Ardwick, after its last passenger diagram of the day. The train would've worked EDB-MIA before running as such.

Also, do I recognise your username from somewhere else, perhaps?

Funny you should say that, I was thinking of asking you the exact same thing

(Would it help to reveal that I spent a small portion of the day in Rochdale?)

 

[Bodie]

First of all after only ever getting to see the 350/4's from a distance at the New Year, I was finally able to see one up close at Lancaster at the beginning of March.
I'll reserve judgement till I've been on one, however the unit I saw was 406 or 407 and it must have been very recent in entering service as I thought it looked very smart and clean.

Still prefer my units painted (or vinyls as the case is these days)
The modern world continues to confound me, why do TPX first have new electric trains build before the line is electrified and when they do get them, they shove them into service before thinking about adding the vinyls.

Been on the lookout through the forum for up to date diagrams for the 350/4's but no luck. Any help?
I may get my first ride on one of them next week, I hope.

Thanks

 

[Class377/5]

Today the 350/4 are doing

350401
Preston Sidings (no booked services)

350402 - AK105 diagram
Craigentinny T&R 07+41 5M91
Edinburgh 07+47 08:12 1M93
Manchester Airport 11:47 11:58 1S56
Edinburgh 15:39 16:12 1M91
Manchester Airport 19:47 19+52 5W91
Manchester Piccadilly 20+13 20+54
Ardwick Depot 20+59

350403 - AK104 diagram
Craigentinny T&R 05+30 5M90
Edinburgh 05+36 06:15 1M91
Manchester Airport 09:47 09:58 1S46
Edinburgh 13:24 14:16 1M99
Manchester Airport 17:48 17:58 1S83
Edinburgh 21:37 22+17 5S83
Craigentinny T&R 22+28

350404 - AK103 diagram
Ardwick Depot 05+49 5S35
Manchester Airport 06+40 07:00 1S35
Glasgow Central 10:29 11:09 1M96
Manchester Airport 14:47 14:58 1C60
Oxenholme 16:30 16+32 5U75
Oxenholme 17+30 17:31 1U75
Manchester Airport 19:13 19:56 1S98
Edinburgh 23:38 23+59 5S98
Craigentinny T&R 00:08

350405
Ardwick depot, no booked services

350406
Ardwick depot, no booked services

350407
Ardwick depot, no booked services

350408
Ardwick Depot 06+30 5T50
Manchester Airport 07+17

350409 - AK102 (north end of train)
Ardwick Depot 05+08 5S32
Manchester Airport 05+41 05:56 1S32
Edinburgh 09:37 10:08 1M95
Manchester Airport 13:48 13:58 1S66
Edinburgh 17:35 18:12 1M93
Manchester Airport 21:48 21:52 5W93
Ardwick Depot 22:30

350410 - AK101 diagram (south end of train)
Ardwick Depot 05+08 5S32
Manchester Airport 05+41 05:56 1S32
Edinburgh 09:37 10:08 1M95
Manchester Airport 13:48 13:58 1S66
Edinburgh 17:35 18:12 1M93
Manchester Airport 21:48 21:52 5W93
Ardwick Depot 22:30

 

[Starmill]

(Would it help to reveal that I spent a small portion of the day in Rochdale?)

Haha yes. r02 is familyguy99, richardio123 and Jack Clare are lurking around here too. I dunno if snowball is on SSC but we've talked about it a bit. And possibly a few others who have been here/there longer than me!

 

[snowball]

I'm known as wrinkly on SSC.

 

[Manchester77]

Haha yes. r02 is familyguy99, richardio123 and Jack Clare are lurking around here too. I dunno if snowball is on SSC but we've talked about it a bit. And possibly a few others who have been here/there longer than me!

There's me and paul too who are both members of SCC and here!

 

[YorkshireBear]

I was talking to a friend of mine from TPX this weekend and I was informed that some if not all of the 350/4s won't be actually going to London Midland as first thought but they will be going on loan to TPX to strengthen services to/from Scotland during the Commonwealth Games so most services will run as 2x350

They aren't going to London Midland for a long time the 350/4s. At least end of TPE franchise in 2016.

 

[snowball]

There's me and paul too who are both members of SCC and here!

Not to mention Watcher Zero and Joseph Locke.

 

[northwichcat]

They aren't going to London Midland for a long time the 350/4s. At least end of TPE franchise in 2016.

I think he's actually suggesting TPE will sublease 350/3s from LM to strengthen services during the Commonwealth Games even though the post says 350/4s.

 

[Manchester77]

I think he's actually suggesting TPE will sublease 350/3s from LM to strengthen services during the Commonwealth Games even though the post says 350/4s.

Will this be possible I thought they were needed for extra WCML services and Birmingham locals?