Great Western Livery

[jimm]

True! I didn't put those two down though for using the stagecoach colours (here in SWT & Stagecoach Bus land) But your right about the brand name identity.

Oh dear, Do First really think they can pull the wool over everyone's eyes that easily?

In what way is putting their name on the side of coaches twice puling the wool over anyone's eyes? You didn't answer the last time, so let's have another try.

 

[fgwrich]

In what way is putting their name on the side of coaches twice puling the wool over anyone's eyes? You didn't answer the last time, so let's have another try.

Because, we'll play the taking an unprecedented step that no-one else is doing and distancing ourselves from our First Group owners by recalling ourselves after the once great GWR. But we'll still stick part of First on there twice, just to give remind ourselves that we're still part of First. FGW had one on each Coach, why add two? And GNER never advertised itself as part of Sea Containers, VTEC never advertised itself as part of Stagecoach, Southern / SouthEastern / LM hasn't stuck part of Govia on anything but some of the timetables, and even Firsts own Buses of Somerset doesn't have part of First Bus stuck on it. If they're going to use the distancing formula, why bother connecting yourself to the subject or company your distancing yourself from twice? We have differing opinions, I feel that the rebranding is pointless and unnecessary, you clearly think it'll work and want it, ok?!

 

[jimm]

Because, we'll play the taking an unprecedented step that no-one else is doing and distancing ourselves from our First Group owners by recalling ourselves after the once great GWR. But we'll still stick part of First on there twice, just to give remind ourselves that we're still part of First. FGW had one on each Coach, why add two? And GNER never advertised itself as part of Sea Containers, VTEC never advertised itself as part of Stagecoach, Southern / SouthEastern / LM hasn't stuck part of Govia on anything but some of the timetables, and even Firsts own Buses of Somerset doesn't have part of First Bus stuck on it. If they're going to use the distancing formula, why bother connecting yourself to the subject or company your distancing yourself from twice? We have differing opinions, I feel that the rebranding is pointless and unnecessary, you clearly think it'll work and want it, ok?!

Different companies do different things. Doesn't prove anything. So First have changed the way they wish to present themselves - so what? They are still linking the corporate name to the GWR brand one way or another, which is hardly distancing themselves. You could argue that's more honest than the GoAhead or Stagecoach way. Thameslink passengers used to be clear they hated First. Do they have a clue that they should now hate GoAhead? Arriva uses the group name on its trains in Wales and in Europe, but not on its other rail services in the UK. Why?

Dynamic lines is 9 years old, which is a pretty good run by recent standards. With new stock and electrification on the way from next year, some sort of rebrand would probably be inevitable anyway, so starting now at least gives the chance to get people used to the new look/identify teething problems - e.g. you probably have a point about the front end of 166205, though whether a big GWR in the middle of the yellow would survive the carriage washers and muck that usually accumulates where the washers don't reach is another matter. The set number may not survive either. The livery may develop over coming months as other stock is treated. It's not as if the first attempts at a First Group blue livery on the HSTs were a rip-roaring success, is it?

I've no idea if the rebrand will work and have no strong feelings either way - haven't even seen a train in green 'in the flesh' yet, bar glimpsing 166204 in a distant siding at Old Oak Common while passing the other day.

 

[BestWestern]

The 'Buses of Somerset' brand does now carry 'Part of FirstGroup' branding. Perhaps a new policy?

 

[capital12]

Different companies do different things. Doesn't prove anything. So First have changed the way they wish to present themselves - so what? They are still linking the corporate name to the GWR brand one way or another, which is hardly distancing themselves. You could argue that's more honest than the GoAhead or Stagecoach way. Thameslink passengers used to be clear they hated First. Do they have a clue that they should now hate GoAhead? Arriva uses the group name on its trains in Wales and in Europe, but not on its other rail services in the UK. Why?

Dynamic lines is 9 years old, which is a pretty good run by recent standards. With new stock and electrification on the way from next year, some sort of rebrand would probably be inevitable anyway, so starting now at least gives the chance to get people used to the new look/identify teething problems - e.g. you probably have a point about the front end of 166205, though whether a big GWR in the middle of the yellow would survive the carriage washers and muck that usually accumulates where the washers don't reach is another matter. The set number may not survive either. The livery may develop over coming months as other stock is treated. It's not as if the first attempts at a First Group blue livery on the HSTs were a rip-roaring success, is it?

I've no idea if the rebrand will work and have no strong feelings either way - haven't even seen a train in green 'in the flesh' yet, bar glimpsing 166204 in a distant siding at Old Oak Common while passing the other day.

I'm not sure it really needs a logo on the front at all - I think it's only First that ever does this (but may be wrong?!)

 

[jimm]

I'm not sure it really needs a logo on the front at all - I think it's only First that ever does this (but may be wrong?!)

Virgin Pendolinos and Voyagers all have a little shield on the front.

 

[59CosG95]

Virgin Pendolinos and Voyagers all have a little shield on the front.

Though the shields are screwed/glued on the front, and are really quite solid. The gWr sticker on 166205 is...well, a sticker. If you've seen how badly the VTEC vinyls on the 91s are wearing down, it'll only be a matter of time before the same happens to the gWr logo.

 

[virgintrain1]

XC features slightly more discrete branding about its owners.

http://oi58.tinypic.com/1zywxl1.jpg

 

[jimm]

Green HST on its way to London earlier today

Pictures: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15989.240 and here https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashthemainman/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y-dV1TojNU

Assortment of Night Riviera set and Class 57 pictures

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/headlines---latest-reports-and-photographs/gwr-top-and-tail

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.o...ports-and-photographs/gwr-top-and-tail-part-2

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.o...phs/sleeping-castles-caught-by-sid-sponheimer

 

[BurtonM]

XC features slightly more discrete branding about its owners.

http://oi58.tinypic.com/1zywxl1.jpg

Shame that even now you can still see where the Virgin shield was on the front, and they still pretty much have VT interiors.

 

[59CosG95]

Shame that even now you can still see where the Virgin shield was on the front, and they still pretty much have VT interiors.

Except in 1st Class,they have XC seation in there. Why they haven't fitted it in all the Vomitors is beyond me. Give me the HST any day!

 

[jimm]

Some pictures of very shiny green trains at Paddington this morning

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15989.255

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

It does seem crazy, spending all this money on another new livery, surely the money could be better spent on other more important improvements. ? This seems to be more for cosmetic reasons than anything else.

 

[jimm]

It does seem crazy, spending all this money on another new livery, surely the money could be better spent on other more important improvements. ? This seems to be more for cosmetic reasons than anything else.

All what money? A new website, a tweak to the software for station announcements, one green HST, some sleeper coaches, two 57s, two or three Turbos and some publicity material is about all there is to show for it so far.

Staff uniforms are replaced regularly, trains are repainted regularly, seats are retrimmed, carpets replaced, timetables go out of date, etc, etc, so a lot of the expenditure would have been needed anyway even if everything was staying blue. This is not an NSE-style 'paint every lamp-post red in one weekend' type exercise but something far more gradual, being phased in as new trains arrive and so on.

 

[387star]

Inside is good

 

[158722]

It does seem crazy, spending all this money on another new livery, surely the money could be better spent on other more important improvements. ? This seems to be more for cosmetic reasons than anything else.

Apart from the HST set, the other stock is due for repainting under planned overhaul/refresh work, so I don't see the issue. Indeed, we should assume that the GWR 'brand' will be required to be maintained after the current direct award with First has ended, following the ScotRail model of a standard franchise livery with small operator decals. A sensible move, in my view.

 

[Unclepete]

So are these existing seats recovered or new seating?

 

[387star]

So are these existing seats recovered or new seating?

Existing recovered

 

[physics34]

Existing recovered

Shame... they killed my arse on the trip from Paddington to Swansea. Not good!

 

[jon0844]

First class looks stunning and it's nice to see that standard now looks pretty decent too.

Can't believe there are people moaning about AGA trains being 'skips' and denying what could be done with a decent refurbishment. The HSTs are perfect proof of what can be done to 'old' trains.

 

[Eliottjames]

Do we have any information on whether the new HST livery/interiors will be applied to every set?

 

[BestWestern]

Do we have any information on whether the new HST livery/interiors will be applied to every set?

No, they won't be.

 

[physics34]

Do we have any information on whether the new HST livery/interiors will be applied to every set?

wouldnt be worth it considering a few sets are going.

How many are staying and how many are going, can anyone confirm again, cheers?

 

[Busaholic]

Not sure that the BBC report on the internet quite conveys what the company had in mind,
partial quote ''three of the trains are decked in green and WILL START RUNNING LATER'' (my capitals). Umm!

 

[swt_passenger]

wouldnt be worth it considering a few sets are going.

How many are staying and how many are going, can anyone confirm again, cheers?

All the GW HSTs are going, sooner or later, now that the order for AT300s for the Devon and Cornwall route has been confirmed.

I suspect any that have been recently repainted in blue will not be re-done before going off lease.

 

[jimm]

Not sure that the BBC report on the internet quite conveys what the company had in mind,
partial quote ''three of the trains are decked in green and WILL START RUNNING LATER'' (my capitals). Umm!

Looking at Google's news feed, they picked up that BBC story 14 hours ago, so at 1am it would have indeed been later...

 

[cj_1985]

Apart from the HST set, the other stock is due for repainting under planned overhaul/refresh work, so I don't see the issue. Indeed, we should assume that the ɢWʀ 'brand' will be required to be maintained after the current direct award with First has ended, following the ScotRail model of a standard franchise livery with small operator decals. A sensible move, in my view.

What I'm wondering, is who's idea this was... FG or DfT

 

[JaJaWa]

What I'm wondering, is who's idea this was... FG or DfT

Roger Ford now saying FirstGroup's

 

[physics34]

All the GW HSTs are going, sooner or later, now that the order for AT300s for the Devon and Cornwall route has been confirmed.

I suspect any that have been recently repainted in blue will not be re-done before going off lease.

okay, ta.

 

[fgwrich]

Inside is good

Not so pleased to see they've gone down the NX ScotRail route with the leather headrest idea. They can tend to end up rather manky after a while if not looked after - the previous one was better as you'd just replaced the antimacassar when your cleaning the train. Fraid i'm not that much of a fan of it either, 50 Shades of Green & Grey? I suppose Grey is supposedly trendy now...

Ah. The forum has gWr'd my name as well. Ermmm!