Ugliest Bus Liveries

[Andyh82]

I'm not a fan of the new First Bristol Citylines, basically the entire bus painted a single colour

They should have looked at places like Reading and Nottingham to see how to do stylish colour based schemes

I think it is a retrograde step from the previous coloured fronts urban liveries


On a similar note the new 'Transport for Cornwall' is awful as well, you can tell its council devised, like they are used to painting bin lorries and vans, that don't need to make any impact

 

[Robertj21a]

Totally agree that Ipswich deserves 1st place. Also agree that anything in plain black looks ghastly - mind you, plain overall white is little better.

 

[py_megapixel]

I'm not a fan of the new First Bristol Citylines, basically the entire bus painted a single colour

They should have looked at places like Reading and Nottingham to see how to do stylish colour based schemes

On a similar note the new 'Transport for Cornwall' is awful as well, you can tell its council devised, like they are used to painting bin lorries and vans, that don't need to make any impact

Both of those look like they're just attemping to copy London!

 

[Tetchytyke]

On a similar note the new 'Transport for Cornwall' is awful as well

All-over red works for London!

I have to say it really suits the E200MMC and the Sprinter minibus:

https://falmouth.nub.news/uploads_news/kroxr_46/46_n_2_3245_1.jpg

https://www.alexander-dennis.com/media/85854/transport-for-cornwall-first-day-of-service-1-resized.jpg

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm not a fan of the new First Bristol Citylines, basically the entire bus painted a single colour

They should have looked at places like Reading and Nottingham to see how to do stylish colour based schemes

I think it is a retrograde step from the previous coloured fronts urban liveries


On a similar note the new 'Transport for Cornwall' is awful as well, you can tell its council devised, like they are used to painting bin lorries and vans, that don't need to make any impact

It is personal choice on the Bristol Citylines. The dark red for the Eastern routes is rather dull but the other ones are certainly very noticeable. A stronger Bristol identity (so emphasising a network) would have a suggestion.

 

[MotCO]

On a similar note the new 'Transport for Cornwall' is awful as well, you can tell its council devised, like they are used to painting bin lorries and vans, that don't need to make any impact

I asked on the Go Cornwall forum pages who designed the TfC livery and was told that it was Go Cornwall / GoAhead, not the Council.

 

[MotCO]

Would it be simpler to say which are the good liveries?

 

[Andyh82]

With Bristol, personally I feel they should have kept the basis of the First urban wedge, so you can tell they are all part of the same network, a bit like (but better than) Leeds, and it would still link together with the other First WoE schemes

 

[Andyh82]

I asked on the Go Cornwall forum pages who designed the TfC livery and was told that it was Go Cornwall / GoAhead, not the Council.

Well Plymouth Citybus is probably the worst livery in the Go-Ahead Group

 

[py_megapixel]

Would it be simpler to say which are the good liveries?

I'd say a nice simple livery, single or two tone, with subtle branding devices. Possibly varying one of the colours to indicate different things (such as route branding). Nothing outlandish or garish (Stagecoach Beachball I'm looking at you) and nothing overly plain (like that TfC livery).

First Vantage is an excellent example in my opinion.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With Bristol, personally I feel they should have kept the basis of the First urban wedge, so you can tell they are all part of the same network, a bit like (but better than) Leeds, and it would still link together with the other First WoE schemes

It is a personal view. JF doesn't like the Urban scheme. I'm ok with most of the Bristol colours but think it needs some common branding that irrespective of the colour, they are all part of the same firm

 

[Howardh]

Would it be simpler to say which are the good liveries?

The old London Routemaster!

 

[buslad1988]

Well Plymouth Citybus is probably the worst livery in the Go-Ahead Group

Nah, that accolade has to go to Konect Bus. So dull and drab. Looks like an ex demo or independent livery.

457 (AU61AVK) 24-02-2020 rte 4 PierAve CN

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[Pat1105]

I do agree that the new East Yorkshire livery is terrible. I much preferred the old maroon and cream livery as it looked more traditional and smart.
I think operators today tend to focus more on looking modern and marketing. I personally think that Transdev seem to focus more on marketing. As a passenger, all I want is a clean bus in fleet livery. None of this fancy route branding and swirly paint jobs. It’s just too much.
That said, route branded vehicles can be a nightmare for allocations as some vehicles are only really limited to a certain route or corridor. It is frustrating to see a branded vehicle on the ‘wrong’ route. NX’s Walsall garage are the worst for this. I always see a 34/39 branded vehicle on the 4 corridor. The other day, 2 34/39 Scanias passed me in Dudley on the 11/A.

 

[py_megapixel]

Nah, that accolade has to go to Konect Bus. So dull and drab. Looks like an ex demo or independent livery.

To be fair that particular vehicle is very dirty.
I still hate the livery though.

 

[Geordie driver]

I never liked the Northumbria livery, I think the diagonal red stripe which appeared to be part of an" N" on the front looked a mess, but I accept I am probably in the minority.

All buses should be either red or yellow. Having said that, I never liked getting a yellow bus as more people got on.

Seriously, I would prefer it if all PTE type areas had the same branding for all services.

 

[py_megapixel]

I do agree that the new East Yorkshire livery is terrible. I much preferred the old maroon and cream livery as it looked more traditional and smart.

Really? I've always personally found that maroon and cream screams "outdated" to me, possibly because it's what a lot of steam railways use. (Not that I think it's a detriment to the steam railways; they are meant to be 'heritage', but in regular service it just looks wrong).

I massively prefer the new livery. It's so much more modern, but unlike some companies, I don't think it goes overboard on garishness...

 

[Andyh82]

I never liked the Northumbria livery, I think the diagonal red stripe which appeared to be part of an" N" on the front looked a mess, but I accept I am probably in the minority.

All buses should be either red or yellow. Having said that, I never liked getting a yellow bus as more people got on.

Seriously, I would prefer it if all PTE type areas had the same branding for all services.

You mean like this

DSC_8390

DSC_8390 - YJ64 DYU - Optare Solo SR M8900 - Gateshead Central Taxis (Nexus Buses) - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange 27/05/16

www.flickr.com

 

[JetBlast]

I do agree that the new East Yorkshire livery is terrible. I much preferred the old maroon and cream livery as it looked more traditional and smart.
I think operators today tend to focus more on looking modern and marketing. I personally think that Transdev seem to focus more on marketing. As a passenger, all I want is a clean bus in fleet livery. None of this fancy route branding and swirly paint jobs. It’s just too much.
That said, route branded vehicles can be a nightmare for allocations as some vehicles are only really limited to a certain route or corridor. It is frustrating to see a branded vehicle on the ‘wrong’ route. NX’s Walsall garage are the worst for this. I always see a 34/39 branded vehicle on the 4 corridor. The other day, 2 34/39 Scanias passed me in Dudley on the 11/A.

It also means (with Transdev anyway) when they have a reshuffle you end up with be branded buses in random colours.

 

[Pat1105]

Really? I've always personally found that maroon and cream screams "outdated" to me, possibly because it's what a lot of steam railways use. (Not that I think it's a detriment to the steam railways; they are meant to be 'heritage', but in regular service it just looks wrong).

I massively prefer the new livery. It's so much more modern, but unlike some companies, I don't think it goes overboard on garishness...

I like the old livery as I think it looks smarter. I’m quite a traditional, old fashioned person anyway and I was saddened to see the demise of the EYMS livery.

 

[jammy36]

Both of those look like they're just attemping to copy London!

Instead of London I thought the new Bristol Citylines schemes were more akin to Oxford Bus Company's City branding

First Bus West of England 'Citylines 3 & 4' Wright Gemini WX57 JYA 37615 , Union Street Bristol 18.7.20

First Bus West of England 'Citylines 3 & 4' Wright Gemini WX57 JYA 37615 , Union Street Bristol 18.7.20

www.flickr.com

vs

Oxford Bus Company 302 HB11OXF

Park End Street, Oxford

www.flickr.com

I do agree that the new East Yorkshire livery is terrible.

I massively prefer the new livery

Clearly the new East Yorkshire livery is one that divides opinion! On balance I prefer the new livery over the old one (although the new livery wouldn't be in my list of favourite recent liveries). My problem with the old livery wasn't that it was traditional - afterall many traditional liveries look stunning (The Delaine's being a case in point in my view). Rather I found the old East Yorkshire livery a little dull - somehow the maroon never seemed to have much richness or depth of colour and it seemed to quickly lose any lacquer/shine (clear-coat too thin/too soft?). I don't know if genuinely so, but this seemed to be particularly the case on in-house paint jobs. I also though the cream was always a little washed out/thin - or at least that's my impression.

711

YX06 CXM Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini

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I don't think it helped that the colours were applied in differing ways (for example there being (?) three variations carried on Wright Gemini 1s prior to the launch of the new scheme)

749 - YX09BKE

Seen at Hull's Paragon Transport Interchange is East Yorkshire Motor Services Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 749 - YX09BKE.

www.flickr.com

735 - YX08FYJ

Seen at Hull's Paragon Transport Interchange is East Yorkshire Motor Services Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 735 - YX08FYJ.

www.flickr.com

738 - YX08FYM

Seen at Hull's Paragon Transport Interchange is East Yorkshire Motor Services Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 738 - YX08FYM.

www.flickr.com

In theory it should have been an excellent livery - traditional colours applied in a fairly traditional layout emblazoned with Gold fleetnames - but somehow it never "shone" for me.

 

[CBlue]

Nah, that accolade has to go to Konect Bus. So dull and drab. Looks like an ex demo or independent livery.

457 (AU61AVK) 24-02-2020 rte 4 PierAve CN

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Their original livery with a wider yellow stripe and yellow fleetnames looked far better....

 

[Statto]

I think Blackpool Transport is pretty horrible; very dark grey with an insipid yellow swoosh!

Agreed, Blackpool had the classic Green & Cream livery too

 

[Bayum]

Agreed, Blackpool had the classic Green & Cream livery too

As did Leeds

 

[cnjb8]

I must be one a few to quite like the new East Yorkshire livery

 

[ClydeCoaster]

I’m not as affecte by the new EY livery but then I rather disliked the previous “traditional” scheme and much preferred the post-dereg red and grey.

I also don’t like nor dislike the Palladium livery in Blackpool but the black and yellow was horrendous.

Those that really push my buttons...

The old “Big K” Keighley & District livery

Keighley

Keighley and District Volvo B10B Alexander Strider 506 (N506 HWY) in that town on 27th November, 2003.

flic.kr

Pre-Stagecoach Strathtay

Stagecoach Strathtay 16930 SP03 GDK

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A relation to Travel West Midlands, the Highland Country scheme I always found hideously dull and instantly made anything it was applied to look tired, old, clapped out and like it belonged to a two-bit outfit (probably because HCB’s fleet was decrepit)

Coach Olympians at Thurso.

To go with the previous picture location wise, here's a shot showing two of the long wheelbase 'coach' Leyland Olympians based there at the time. Presumably their huge size was needed for schools and college work? I've no idea where the pair began their working lives so any info on that would be...

flic.kr

And last for now is the current JMB Travel livery, which took Lothian‘s previous style and thrown in a horrific mix of green, purple and silver with a cheap fleet name.

JMB Travel, Newmains SV55BZM

SV55 BZM is an AD Dart SLF/AD Pointer new to Stagecoach Bluebird (Inverness) as their 34736 in September 2005. It later transferred to Highland Country under a revision of Stagecoach operating companies before joining the JMB Travel fleet in 2017.

flic.kr

Also, while I’m complaining, I don’t understand why West Coast Motors took a very smart combination of red and cream with blue relief and started applying it with a wavy curve affect that doesn’t sit right on any bus...

Craig of Campbeltown (West Coast Motors) 11521 SG65EEN at Dunoon Pier.

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(Not my photos, credit to those who have posted them on Flickr)

 

[Jordan Adam]

Also, while I’m complaining, I don’t understand why West Coast Motors took a very smart combination of red and cream with blue relief and started applying it with a wavy curve affect that doesn’t sit right on any bus...

Craig of Campbeltown (West Coast Motors) 11521 SG65EEN at Dunoon Pier.

Explore Gobbiner's 13018 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

(Not my photos, credit to those who have posted them on Flickr)

"Craig Group" have updated their livery so that one is now defunct, i agree though it never sat right on most buses especially not at the rear.
This is the new scheme which i actually rather like.

YX12DJJ_2

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[fgwrich]

"Craig Group" have updated their livery so that one is now defunct, i agree though it never sat right on most buses especially not at the rear.
This is the new scheme which i actually rather like.

YX12DJJ_2

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Oh, so it's a Scottish Brighton & Hove! And yes, I agree about that JMB Travel livery too. Why do some operators blatantly chose to copy other operators liveries then apply some shockingly garish colours I don't know.

The issue I have with the new East Yorkshire livery is that it's too fussy, too many swooping curvy pieces that just look ridiculous. Cut it back a bit, drop some of the brown hilly bits and it would look great as a new livery for them.

 

[Bayum]

The new Leeds green and red makes me feel ill every time I see it.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1869/42835574050_2200039148_b.jpg

 

[RustySpoons]

A long gone livery that I think only made it onto two buses in this form...

Tyrer Bus who used to be based in Nelson (who are no longer trading but do have family links to the current Tyrers operation near Bolton) had two Olympians painted up like this...

A583HDB

Northern Counties bodied Olympian with Tyrers of Trawden. A GMPTE standard which arrived here in 2003 via GMS, Ribble, Lancashire United and Burnley & Pendle.

flic.kr

One of them didn't have the silver, and I don't think it'd have been that bad if it wasn't for the odd blue band around the bottom which doesn't fit right at all, especially the weird design at at the back.