Nat Express rebranding

[delt1c]

Just seen 317.892 which has had the Stanstead Express branding replaced by East Anglia in a different style. Also with 379's now entering service I see several West Anglia services strengthened to 8 cars and less 315's on Hertfords.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Just seen 317.892 which has had the Stanstead Express branding replaced by East Anglia in a different style. Also with 379's now entering service I see several West Anglia services strengthened to 8 cars and less 315's on Hertfords.

Grrr. There's no second A in Stansted (sorry, it irritates me every time!!)

Along with 892, 722 & 502 have also been debranded. 892 didn't have any new branding on it yesterday, just had its Stansted Express branding removed, but it was on an Ilford return diagram yesterday- you sure it's got new East Anglia branding? They always did have the smaller 'East Anglia' on the coach ends (not in the same style as National Express/Stansted Express).

There should only now be two 8 car 315 sets for the Hertford services in the mornings. The rest are being used elsewhere. There's also a few more 317's being used on Enfield Town & Cheshunt services in the evenings. The Romford - Upminster shuttle is now 317 operation- 507 kicked that off yesterday.

There are a few strengthened services that I picked up on yesterday when I trawled through the new diagrams:

2H06 0658 Cambridge 8 vice 4
2O08 0712 Hertford 8 317 v 8 315
2H12 0758 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O16 0912 Hertford 8 317 v 4 315
1H80 1628 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H44 1643 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H56 1928 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H58 1958 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O10 2012 Hertford 8 v 4 317
2H62 2058 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O14 2112 Hertford 8 v 4 317
2H70 2310 Cambridge 8 v 4 317

The Up road workings (London bound) are also strengthened.

There are more strengthened services on Chingfords, Enfields & Cheshunts but I'd had enough of diagrams last night.

 

[jopsuk]

On a related note, where are the sets that usually get parked in the sidings opposite the platforms at Cambridge, which have just about all been ripped up for the new platform works, being stabled at the moment? Didn't think there was any spare space in the yard to the north of the station?

 

[GospelOak117]

Grrr. There's no second A in Stansted (sorry, it irritates me every time!!)

I guess you have noticed the London Underground signs at Liverpool Street that say 'Trains to Stanstead' spelt wrong. I can't stand that

 

[delt1c]

Grrr. There's no second A in Stansted (sorry, it irritates me every time!!)

Along with 892, 722 & 502 have also been debranded. 892 didn't have any new branding on it yesterday, just had its Stansted Express branding removed, but it was on an Ilford return diagram yesterday- you sure it's got new East Anglia branding? They always did have the smaller 'East Anglia' on the coach ends (not in the same style as National Express/Stansted Express).

There should only now be two 8 car 315 sets for the Hertford services in the mornings. The rest are being used elsewhere. There's also a few more 317's being used on Enfield Town & Cheshunt services in the evenings. The Romford - Upminster shuttle is now 317 operation- 507 kicked that off yesterday.

There are a few strengthened services that I picked up on yesterday when I trawled through the new diagrams:

2H06 0658 Cambridge 8 vice 4
2O08 0712 Hertford 8 317 v 8 315
2H12 0758 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O16 0912 Hertford 8 317 v 4 315
1H80 1628 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H44 1643 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H56 1928 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2H58 1958 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O10 2012 Hertford 8 v 4 317
2H62 2058 Cambridge 8 v 4 317
2O14 2112 Hertford 8 v 4 317
2H70 2310 Cambridge 8 v 4 317

The Up road workings (London bound) are also strengthened.

There are more strengthened services on Chingfords, Enfields & Cheshunts but I'd had enough of diagrams last night.

Appologies , freezing my KP's of waiting for the train this morning spelling was the last thing on my mind. Slap my wrist tommorrow when I am waiting on a Northbound service.
Addition to the changes, this week the 06.05 Hertford East to Livrpool St has been an 8 car 317 , in the past this has always been an 8 car 315. Interesting is that with a 317 it appears more crowded, are the door vestibules narrower on the 317's?

 

[GospelOak117]

315 doors are pretty wide and Mk3 doorways do seem quite narrow in comparison. Alot of people tend to stand in the doorways of a 315 even when there are seats, but on a 317 some of them would move down the car as it is more cramped there. Also it depends what subclass of 317 you were on as 317/6 and 317/7s have 2+2 seating so less seats, and 317/8's have luggage spaces in place of some seats.

 

[317666]

I've noticed that 317502 has had the 'national express' logos removed rubbed off, but it still says 'East Anglia' in the usual style.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

I've noticed that 317502 has had the 'national express' logos removed rubbed off, but it still says 'East Anglia' in the usual style.

507 has also joined the list of debranded ones. 512 has also been done but one side only.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

I guess you have noticed the London Underground signs at Liverpool Street that say 'Trains to Stanstead' spelt wrong. I can't stand that

Yeah I have noticed that. I want to rip that sign down every time I see it!

 

[GospelOak117]

There is no indication that I can find of National Express changing their logo, so I can't think why this is......Tbh i'm tired of all the rebranding that has occured on Greater Anglia and it's predecessors since privitisation, it's left us with dozens of liveries, interior colour schemes, loads of different types of station signage and it all just looks a complete mess. There have been regular name changes since 1997 and passengers just find it confusing as to who the operator actually is....and next year it's all set to change again. I hope Stagecoach win the next franchise in the long term and we can start getting some uniformity and a stable, recognised brand and image, like South West Trains has had since the beginning.

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

There is no indication that I can find of National Express changing their logo, so I can't think why this is......Tbh i'm tired of all the rebranding that has occured on Greater Anglia and it's predecessors since privitisation, it's left us with dozens of liveries, interior colour schemes, loads of different types of station signage and it all just looks a complete mess. There have been regular name changes since 1997 and passengers just find it confusing as to who the operator actually is....and next year it's all set to change again. I hope Stagecoach win the next franchise in the long term and we can start getting some uniformity and a stable, recognised brand and image, like South West Trains has had since the beginning.

NX aren't changing the logos. To be honest, I'm confused why 502, 507 and 512 have been debranded. The 317/7's and 317/8's are having their Stansted Express branding taken off so when they get deployed around the rest of the patch, it doesn't confuse people when a Stansted express unit rolls into Ipswich. And also because they are no longer Stansted Express units. And with NX loosing the franchise, they won't bother rebranding them.

 

[317666]

There seems to be a gap of 317/6s being painted in polar bear livery - 317653 was released a while ago, but 654 "Richard Wells" was still running in ONE livery on Saturday.

Whilst I'm on the subject of 317s (Hooray! ), does anyone have any news on 317511?

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

There seems to be a gap of 317/6s being painted in polar bear livery - 317653 was released a while ago, but 654 "Richard Wells" was still running in ONE livery on Saturday.

Whilst I'm on the subject of 317s (Hooray! ), does anyone have any news on 317511?

654 was out today on Cambridge services, although I've not seen 655 for a while now.

511 is still a mystery. It's at Ilford and it's been repainted. Someone told me yesterday it's been running up and down Ilford yard, unclear whether under it's own power or dragged. The plan was for Bombardier at Ilford to paint it, repair it internally, then it was supposed to be being taken to Derby to be rewired then returned to service. Apparently Angel trains have been onto NX to find out why 511 hasn't turned a wheel in 5 years.

514 is another mystery. That's been out of service for a year. Someone posted on Anglia Gen a few weeks ago they saw it at Ilford and it looked like it had a new pan fitted so maybe this one will put in an appearance soon too.

 

[317666]

Ah right, thanks for that.

 

[Skimble19]

Perhaps they're starting to remove their logos now to save having to rush doing it.. after all, they know they wont win the new franchise and they've already stopped painting trains into their livery (painting them in the plain white livery instead)..

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

and they've already stopped painting trains into their livery (painting them in the plain white livery instead)..

321349 went to Doncaster last week...

 

[delt1c]

There is no indication that I can find of National Express changing their logo, so I can't think why this is......Tbh i'm tired of all the rebranding that has occured on Greater Anglia and it's predecessors since privitisation, it's left us with dozens of liveries, interior colour schemes, loads of different types of station signage and it all just looks a complete mess. There have been regular name changes since 1997 and passengers just find it confusing as to who the operator actually is....and next year it's all set to change again. I hope Stagecoach win the next franchise in the long term and we can start getting some uniformity and a stable, recognised brand and image, like South West Trains has had since the beginning.

likewise having endured Nowt Ex for what feels like an eternity I would like to see Stagecoach get the franchise. They have a good brand image and have made investments in passenger enviroments, compare the 455 refurb to the 315.

 

[HST Power]

A route always feel very empty when you get on a slow train that stops at all the stations. For instance, I take the 1621 to Cambridge (and it's always packed) but by the time I'm at Letchworth the carriages are nearly empty.

 

[bengley]

321349 went to Doncaster last week...

...to be painted into a plain white livery

 

[MCR247]

Perhaps they're starting to remove their logos now to save having to rush doing it.. after all, they know they wont win the new franchise and they've already stopped painting trains into their livery (painting them in the plain white livery instead)..

Not strictly true as everything else was just vinyls I think, so there just isn't much point in splashing out on vinyls

 

[O L Leigh]

There seems to be a gap of 317/6s being painted in polar bear livery - 317653 was released a while ago, but 654 "Richard Wells" was still running in ONE livery on Saturday.

That's because they're not being done in strict numerical order. The next one to appear will be 658 which was lurking in the New Shed this evening.

Whilst I'm on the subject of 317s (Hooray! ), does anyone have any news on 317511?

Can't comment on reports of it trundling up and down Ilford yard, but a plain white Cl317 is currently B Shop at Ilford in the custody of Bombardier and, as 511 isn't anywhere else at the depot, I'm assuming that's what it is.

514 is another mystery. That's been out of service for a year. Someone posted on Anglia Gen a few weeks ago they saw it at Ilford and it looked like it had a new pan fitted so maybe this one will put in an appearance soon too.

Who can say? 514 is still on the Plessey Roads by the New Shed which suggests it's still some way off returning to service. 511 had a new pan and quite a lot else fitted some time ago, so reports of new bits being bolted on does not necessarily indicate an imminent return to service.

O L Leigh

 

[prod_pep]

On a slightly related note, is there any news on 315850? I believe this was moved into the new shed a short while ago, but nothing since.