First Group: General Discussion

[TheGrandWazoo]

But the comparison was with Olympia which was the previous corporate livery used group wide.

In comparison with the 2012 Olympia, it's easier to apply. Two colours, simple layout.

 

[fgwrich]

In comparison with the 2012 Olympia, it's easier to apply. Two colours, simple layout.

I still feel that Olympia's biggest downside was (and now is a Problem that Stagecoach are now finding) trying to incorporate the business logo into the paint scheme. Not every vehicle is the same shape, making painting the elements of the logo rather difficult. It also meant that with adverts, washing or the weather, parts of the livery became worn in appearance quicker than other bits.

Its second biggest downfall was how quickly it could become scruffy at some depots. Urban / Urban 2 seemed to look rather smart and work quite nicely, but First has changed it's mind again and here with are with another new livery. I will be very sorry if localised versions are swept away too - The new scheme isn't too bad but once you get past the Purple / Grey diagonal part, it becomes somewhat boring on a long vehicle like an E300.

 

[stevenedin]

I still feel that Olympia's biggest downside was (and now is a Problem that Stagecoach are now finding) trying to incorporate the business logo into the paint scheme. Not every vehicle is the same shape, making painting the elements of the logo rather difficult. It also meant that with adverts, washing or the weather, parts of the livery became worn in appearance quicker than other bits.

Its second biggest downfall was how quickly it could become scruffy at some depots. Urban / Urban 2 seemed to look rather smart and work quite nicely, but First has changed it's mind again and here with are with another new livery. I will be very sorry if localised versions are swept away too - The new scheme isn't too bad but once you get past the Purple / Grey diagonal part, it becomes somewhat boring on a long vehicle like an E300.

There is also the pink stripes and the white logo to make it less boring. I personally like it.

 

[Leyland Bus]

I still feel that Olympia's biggest downside was (and now is a Problem that Stagecoach are now finding) trying to incorporate the business logo into the paint scheme. Not every vehicle is the same shape, making painting the elements of the logo rather difficult. It also meant that with adverts, washing or the weather, parts of the livery became worn in appearance quicker than other bits.

Its second biggest downfall was how quickly it could become scruffy at some depots. Urban / Urban 2 seemed to look rather smart and work quite nicely, but First has changed it's mind again and here with are with another new livery. I will be very sorry if localised versions are swept away too - The new scheme isn't too bad but once you get past the Purple / Grey diagonal part, it becomes somewhat boring on a long vehicle like an E300.

And don't forget the logo pointed the wrong way on the offside... It really was a ridiculous livery. Extremely fiddly and time consuming, especially for repairs. Having used to paint this livery on virtually everything we ran, I won't hear differently! Lol!

The new livery is very bland, the colours are once again poor choices and the livery will look very flat and untidy after a few trips through the wash and once a few panels have been repainted following accident damage...

Also, I'd like to point out that during the 'barbie' years, any vehicles being transferred between opcos were fully repainted, retrimmed if it was worn and had to have a minimum of 6 months MoT (any less and it went through a full ticket) But then I suppose pride was just about still a thing and money wasn't as stretched as it is now. Once that system went, opcos would actively choose the shabbiest of buses to transfer, meaning they needed painting once they arrived anyway or they were just left to get worse... At least with each area being different, there *should* have been the impetus to repaint every newcomer, resulting in a decent fleet image...

Give it afew years and it will all come full circle once again...

 

[Edvid]

An initial deal with NewPower (repowering subsidiary of Wrightbus) to convert 32 diesel buses to battery-electric has been confirmed, following the well-publicised launch of NewPower and sighting of several mid-convert StreetDecks on-site a month ago.

NewPower secures first order from First Bus just weeks after launch | First Bus UK News

First Bus becomes first UK Bus operator to place order with New Power, a new enterprise that coverts diesel buses into Zero Emission Electric Vehicles. An initial order of 32 buses has been placed that will serve four regions.

news.firstbus.co.uk

First Bus has become the first UK bus operator to place an order with NewPower – a bold enterprise that converts diesel buses into zero-emission electric vehicles – that will help save thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually.

NewPower was launched just weeks ago by world-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus. It is the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to offer a repowering service to help speed up the decarbonisation process by eradicating diesel powertrains in older fleets at a substantially lower price than purchasing a new bus.

First Bus collaborated with Wrightbus from the outset of this project providing an initial two vehicles to trial and perfect the technology on ahead of the launch of NewPower.

Following the successful conversion of the first two diesel vehicles, First Bus has now ordered a further thirty buses that will now have their diesel engines replaced with new zero-emission electric powertrains at NewPower’s hi-tech Bicester factory in Oxfordshire.

Collectively, when the 32 repowered Zero Emission Buses enter service, they will eliminate tailpipe emissions equivalent to 2,100 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

First Bus has committed to ensuring its entire fleet is zero-emission by 2035. The 32 repowered buses will be introduced over the next few months in areas with existing EV infrastructure in Portsmouth, Norwich, Bramley (Leeds), Leicester and Aberdeen; joining a growing EV fleet of over 600 vehicles already serving customers across the First Bus UK network.

In a cost-effective approach to decarbonisation, the NewPower process converts diesel buses into electric for less than half of the price of a new electric bus – extending their lifespan by six to nine years in the process. As a result, there are significant embodied carbon savings* of refurbishing an older vehicle over manufacturing a new vehicle.

Repowers can be completed by skilled engineers in as little as three weeks. The process includes the removal of the engine, gearbox, fuel tank, radiator and other components, before the installation of the new EV batteries and electric drive system. The old diesel parts are then recycled.

Zero-emission vehicles built by Wrightbus have already logged over 14 million miles, preventing more than 24,000 tonnes of CO₂ from polluting the atmosphere.

This initial order is an important step for both NewPower and First Bus moving forward.

Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said: “At Wrightbus, we already have a positive relationship with First Bus, having supplied them with numerous zero-emission buses over recent years. That’s why it’s particularly satisfying to receive NewPower’s first order from them,” he said.

“By using the expertise of our 1,800-strong Wrightbus workforce – including our master technicians – NewPower has unrivalled expertise in being able to swap powertrains.

“Once back in service, the repowered buses will have an immediate impact on reducing pollution and improving air quality in the towns and cities in which they operate.”

First Bus' Decarbonisation Programme Director, Faizan Ahmad, said: “We are thrilled to place this order for an additional 30 repowered buses and to continue our collaboration with Wrightbus on this exciting project.

“We’ve partnered with the NewPower team from the outset of this initiative and are proud to be a driving force in the zero-emission space once again with another innovative solution.

“We are committed to achieving a fully electric bus fleet by 2035, and repower technology has the potential to be a real game-changer in helping us reach that goal as well as benefiting the wider bus industry as we work to decarbonise the sector."

ENDS

*Embodied carbon savings is the focus on reusing and repurposing assets where possible, to avoid the need for the building of new assets automatically. In this instance, repurposing existing mid-life buses already built.

 

[Numpt33]

It's quite amazing how little Head Office seem to care about their image.

Personally I feel they ought to completely overhaul their image, maybe when there is a change in ownership and their business practices, they can ditch "First" and rename as "General - something " - a more blue chip name, and go for a red and white livery, which would not be distinctive back in the days of NBC or even after deregulation, but will be distinctive now. why should "First" concede an entire primary colour to TfL?

First is also not associated with "First choice" "First in class". It's a teenager getting First comment on a YouTube comments section.

 

[stuart81]

Not sure if it's a sign of anything significant but Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds have all been merged together on the First website under "West Yorkshire"

West Yorkshire | First Bus

Our UK Bus division operates around a fifth of local bus services in the UK and is one of the largest bus operators with a fleet of approximately 6,400 buses around the England, Scotland and Wales. We have bus routes serving 40 of the UK’s largest towns and cities providing great value public...

www.firstbus.co.uk

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure if it's a sign of anything significant but Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds have all been merged together on the First website under "West Yorkshire"

West Yorkshire | First Bus

Our UK Bus division operates around a fifth of local bus services in the UK and is one of the largest bus operators with a fleet of approximately 6,400 buses around the England, Scotland and Wales. We have bus routes serving 40 of the UK’s largest towns and cities providing great value public...

www.firstbus.co.uk

With the individual local brands disappearing I don't suppose there's much point in having separate web pages.

 

[Andyh82]

As long as someone doesn’t come up with the idea of having one single big website like Arriva

 

[Russel]

As long as someone doesn’t come up with the idea of having one single big website like Arriva

This would be a terrible idea, First, please don't do it.

On that note, copying anything Arriva has done over the last 10 years probably isn't a great idea!

 

[dgl]

Well it's catch the bus month,

 

[Russel]

Well it's catch the bus month,

Didn't First produce an advert this painful to watch about 10 years ago too?

Edit to add, yes they did!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Didn't First produce an advert this painful to watch about 10 years ago too?

Edit to add, yes they did!

So it caught your attention and lodged in your memory….

 

[Russel]

So it caught your attention and lodged in your memory….

Yes, it's hard to forget something that cheap and cringeworthy...

Though, that did sum up First Group at the time!

 

[317 forever]

Yes, it's hard to forget something that cheap and cringeworthy...

Though, that did sum up First Group at the time!

I think that was the time they proclaimed themselves as First transforming travel.

This bore a lot of truth. They were transforming travel, by making it less reliable and less enjoyable.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes, it's hard to forget something that cheap and cringeworthy...

Though, that did sum up First Group at the time!

So you don't recognise that it actually worked... You remembered it!

Quite a few advertising agencies will employ the tactic that even if it annoys you, at least you noticed it. webuyanycar was one notable example but there's many more.

I think that was the time they proclaimed themselves as First transforming travel.

This bore a lot of truth. They were transforming travel, by making it less reliable and less enjoyable.

Sorry but that was after the Transgressing Travel era. That was under Moir's tenure - you can date that video very accurately in that the new promo font had been rolled out but the "Olympia" livery hadn't yet been introduced.

 

[richw]

Quite a few advertising agencies will employ the tactic that even if it annoys you, at least you noticed it. webuyanycar was one notable example but there's many more.

Wynne jones became one of the most well known and recognisable opera singers from doing an annoying and memorable advert!

 

[Russel]

So you don't recognise that it actually worked... You remembered it!

Where did I say, imply or suggest it didn't work?

I said it was cringeworthy and cheap, which is just my personal opinion of it.

 

[JD2168]

So you don't recognise that it actually worked... You remembered it!

Quite a few advertising agencies will employ the tactic that even if it annoys you, at least you noticed it. webuyanycar was one notable example but there's many more.

Sorry but that was after the Transgressing Travel era. That was under Moir's tenure - you can date that video very accurately in that the new promo font had been rolled out but the "Olympia" livery hadn't yet been introduced.

The advert was when they were putting’we believe in improving your buses’ on the side where the Skyline was. They also had some overall adverts promoting it.

 

[Metal Mickey]

The advert was when they were putting’we believe in improving your buses’ on the side where the Skyline was. They also had some overall adverts promoting it.

That was part of the Better Journeys for Life campaign in the early days of Giles Fearnley’s tenure.

This was introduced after the Transforming Travel branding which replaced local company names on timetable leaflets etc back in 2002.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Where did I say, imply or suggest it didn't work?

You didn't - it was a rhetorical question

That was part of the Better Journeys for Life campaign in the early days of Giles Fearnley’s tenure.

This was introduced after the Transforming Travel branding which replaced local company names on timetable leaflets etc back in 2002.

Exactly right.

 

[G42]

A new logo on the way…

 

[Leyland Bus]

A new logo on the way…

You are joking?! Is there a new tagline? "Drawn by Connor age 12"? What is wrong with these companies!?

 

[Murray J]

A new logo on the way…

Do you have a source?

 

[G42]

Do you have a source?

Latest staff video, new uniform coming too.

 

[Russel]

A new logo on the way…

They employed the same design agency as Arriva, it seems.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Latest staff video, new uniform coming too.

I thought they'd only recently refreshed the uniform?

As for the logo... Seems rather pointless. As with Arriva, you have multiple depots and vehicles with the old logo over 6.5 years since the new one was released, let alone bus stop flags.

 

[christopher]

Interesting that all these new repaints they've been doing will now require new logos

 

[SSmith2009]

A new logo on the way…

Looks like it's been done on microsoft paint

 

[Bletchleyite]

A new logo on the way…

That surely can't be real. If it is, did they get one of the directors' 5 year old kids to do it?

I thought the new Stagecoach branding package looked like a Fisher Price job, but seriously, this is rank amateurish.