TH172341
Member
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 394
And maybe new air-con systems?!
Haha - completely left that one out...:roll: definitely need new air con systems.
And maybe new air-con systems?!
Haha - completely left that one out...:roll: definitely need new air con systems.
View attachment 27628. The Northen 150 stripped to the bare bones.
That looks more 155 than 150 to me!
Haha - completely left that one out...:roll: definitely need new air con systems.
Oh dear, a drab facsimile of the old Wales & Borders colour scheme, which looked shockingly unappealing after a few years of limited attention.
Although of course the greater concern is what has been done to improve the interior.
The livery of a train can really help give the impression of great service, indeed this was something a nationalised British Rail was keen on.
It's something that Northern haven't been very good at for well over a decade. I know that the livery of a train (or fleet of trains) isn't actually indicative of service, punctuality or quality, but it does go a long way to give a good impression.
Notwithstanding personal taste, however.
Look at the livery (side view) of the London Midland class 319 compared to the Northern equivalent. London Midland's somehow makes the trains look cleaner and fresher.
IMO the best Northern ever had was that 5-car train they had leased and put in First's Barbie scheme (I forget the class, sorry).
Without offering opinion on other improvements Northern are making, I hope they do better than the above images suggest and, as alluded to by others above, utilise some funky vinyls.
Minty fresh?Look at the livery (side view) of the London Midland class 319 compared to the Northern equivalent. London Midland's somehow makes the trains look cleaner and fresher.
I'm in a minority as I quite liked Serco/Abellio era Northern livery. Would've preferred a Dutch-inspired livery myself, but we can't have everything!
Oh, didn't you remember Northern Rail (Secro/Abellio) having two? I think the 1st one existed into 2008.
There were a couple of experimental ones (white background and light blue background) that I think were only applied to a couple of 156s each. Then there were the West Yorkshire electric variants applied to 321s and 333s (red base). Most units got what I'd call the standard Northern livery with the navy-blue base.
The Northern livery went through a few iterations before the final scheme was settled upon. Heaton based 156451 received a lilac, white and grey livery for the franchise launch in 2004, while three Newton Heath based units (156425, 460 & 464) received a reversed version of the scheme where white predominated during 2005, which has made me wonder whether Northern originally intended on retaining separate liveries for the East and West sides of the Pennines. I liked the predominantly lilac scheme carried by 156451, but the white scheme carried by the Newton Heath units was very bland and difficult to keep clean.Oh, didn't you remember Northern Rail (Secro/Abellio) having two? I think the 1st one existed into 2008.
I'm not a fan of light grey based liveries: London Midlands' isn't bad as it incorporates some fairly broad bands of colour, but in my opinion the mock ups of the new Northern livery look awful.Yeah, well that experimental one looked boring, but the standard on isn't terrihe on it's own, just not to the likes of LM. That new one applied to that CAF unit on the artist impression is way better and interesting
Well, what Northern did was to replace the pink First Great Western stripes with Northern purple vinyl, which did look a lot less brash than the original "Barbie" scheme.IMO the best Northern ever had was that 5-car train they had leased and put in First's Barbie scheme (I forget the class, sorry).
Train liveries are always a fractious issue amongst railway enthusiasts, but I think that Regional Railways livery looked very professional, and both the Provincial and Regional Railways standard schemes allowed for a much more colourful local rail scene thanks to the various PTE schemes that were adapted from them. The sectorisation era liveries were a breath of fresh air compared to local stock painted drab all over blue.That 5 car unit was one of 3 class 180's Adelante units sub-leased by East Coast (since left).
And I agree with you, that London Midland livery looks way better than anything that's ever touched 'Northern territory'
BR pre-secortarism- Hideous
Regional Railways- Ditto
Northern Spirit/ATN- Plain disgusting
First North Western- Bof
Northern Rail 1- Horrid and boring
Northern Rail 2Better, but not quite FNW
Given that much of the stock will be maintained at the same depots with presumably the same wash plant facilities and cleaning regimes as at present, it will be interesting to see whether Arriva can maintain sufficient standards to ensure that new and repainted trains are kept clean in a predominantly light grey livery.I was thinking the same. Having seen a rather shabby looking VTEC HST set at Leeds on Saturday that was in serious need of a wash, its to be hoped that Arriva have plans to keep the newly refurbished fleet well serviced and cleaned, as all that white will soon turn mucky grey in a short while.
I'm not a fan of light grey based liveries: London Midlands' isn't bad as it incorporates some fairly broad bands of colour, but in my opinion the mock ups of the new Northern livery look awful.
Looking fresh and smart. A bit of a bored livery but otherwise clean and no-nonsense. The outside PIS looks clearer and brighter. Liking the clean interior panels, very smart. Can't wait to see this finished and in service!
Hopefully the livery will have a bit more going on once they've been fully branded and vinyled...
Another pic from today's Shed.View attachment 27678
All that grey paint will look dirty and tired very quickly. Are all of the TOC's aspiring to be Connex for some reason ?
The old purple livery was far sombre.
I'm in a minority as I quite liked Serco/Abellio era Northern livery. Would've preferred a Dutch-inspired livery myself, but we can't have everything!
About time the Battle of the Boyne was forgotten...