SWR after May

[DM352]

"Coming soon" is a real hostage to fortune.

They forgot with focus on the 701's, an earlier BR slogan "we are getting there"

To an earlier comment on flags, they have the US ones on almost every NYC subway car which stands out on the stainless steel bodywork.

 

[The Ham]

On a SWR service earlier, the internal matrix signs were still directing to First Group's website for careers.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

On a SWR service earlier, the internal matrix signs were still directing to First Group's website for careers.

Similiar happened when SWR first started in 2017, SWT's email & Twitter addresses were still shown on the scrolling displays in the Desiros. Especially on their first week, there was very little evidence the franchise change occurred, with the Desiros still in Stagecoach colours and displaying "South West Trains" under the windows as if the change never happened, it was quite surreal.

The change from SWT to SWR obviously was gradual over the years, the SWT name fully disappeared a year later, the final Stagecoach livered Desiro got repainted a short time ago. It'll be like that with GBR, likely longer as it'll be most of England instead of one franchise region.

When you think of those upcoming new stock, these'll have to be repainted into GBR's colours especially the purple EMR ones! The new 897s ordered for the ECML could debut in the GBR livery instead of LNER's if not built yet.

 

[vuzzeho]

Interestingly enough, the SWR app's developer on the App Store is still 'First MTR South Western Trains Limited'. Of course, this isn't really something easy to change - you can't 'give' an app to a new developer. However, I'm surprised they didn't at least rename the dev profile. That said, Southeastern is still under 'The Go-Ahead Group plc', and Northern is still under 'Arriva Rail North Limited'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interestingly enough, the SWR app's developer on the App Store is still 'First MTR South Western Trains Limited'. Of course, this isn't really something easy to change - you can't 'give' an app to a new developer. However, I'm surprised they didn't at least rename the dev profile. That said, Southeastern is still under 'The Go-Ahead Group plc', and Northern is still under 'Arriva Rail North Limited'.

At some point I expect there'll be a unification onto one of the apps and retail systems even if for now there are several branded versions of it a bit like the way Trainline does it. Until the relevant contracts expire it's probably too much effort to bother trying to shift these things around.

My suspicion would be the LNER one because it's got the most useful customisations e.g. the best seat selector by far (and really isn't that bad, I've been using it of late due to Monzo offering cashback on it).

 

[A S Leib]

I wonder what, if anything, will happen to TOC-platform specific advantages such as Club Avanti once there's a single system, if said loyalty programmes survive at all.

 

[43096]

The change from SWT to SWR obviously was gradual over the years, the SWT name fully disappeared a year later, the final Stagecoach livered Desiro got repainted a short time ago. It'll be like that with GBR, likely longer as it'll be most of England instead of one franchise region.

The SWR Desiros still have plenty of Stagecoach era signage inside. To say it was done on the cheap is an understatement.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder what, if anything, will happen to TOC-platform specific advantages such as Club Avanti once there's a single system, if said loyalty programmes survive at all.

It would be very, very nice to see a single national loyalty scheme. LNER Perks I guess would be the easiest one to roll it into if the LNER site/app was to form the basis of GBR's online retail, though I think others perhaps have more attractive features than the simple 2% cash back that offers.

The SWR Desiros still have plenty of Stagecoach era signage inside. To say it was done on the cheap is an understatement.

WMT's 350/1s had Stagecoach signage until refurb, there's probably still some there. I assume that was because they were originally meant to be 450s.

(Curiously my old Scout hut had a toilet sign from a 350/450 on the toilet door - I have no idea who nicked it - it wasn't me! )

 

[A S Leib]

It would be very, very nice to see a single national loyalty scheme. LNER Perks I guess would be the easiest one to roll it into if the LNER site/app was to form the basis of GBR's online retail.

£1 spent = 2p returned seems a lot more understandable than Avanti's system as well (e.g. the 75-mile minimum and maximum of two qualifying journeys per day means I've split some Carlisle / Glasgow to Watford / Milton Keynes tickets at Wolverhampton or Crewe to get two which count, and I don't think Avanti's give any benefits for season ticket holders).

 

[Bletchleyite]

£1 spent = 2p returned seems a lot more understandable than Avanti's system as well (e.g. the 75-mile minimum and maximum of two qualifying journeys per day means I've split some Carlisle / Glasgow to Watford / Milton Keynes tickets at Wolverhampton or Crewe to get two which count, and I don't think Avanti's give any benefits for season ticket holders).

I think this merits its own thread:

What features should a GBR loyalty scheme have?

It would be very, very nice to see a single national loyalty scheme. LNER Perks I guess would be the easiest one to roll it into if the LNER site/app was to form the basis of GBR's online retail, though I think others perhaps have more attractive features than the simple 2% cash back that...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The SWR Desiros still have plenty of Stagecoach era signage inside. To say it was done on the cheap is an understatement.

Even the interior unit numbers by the doors are in SWT blue and font.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Even the interior unit numbers by the doors are in SWT blue and font.

Why would these need to be changed?

The SWR Desiros still have plenty of Stagecoach era signage inside. To say it was done on the cheap is an understatement.

Unless the signs actually needed changing why would you change them, it’s somewhat wasteful just for the sake of it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why would these need to be changed?

They don't need to be changed. It's only really enthusiasts in the know who would have commented on the 350/1s having SWR interior signage.

 

[Towers]

To an earlier comment on flags, they have the US ones on almost every NYC subway car which stands out on the stainless steel bodywork.

They do, but then everything in America is emblazoned with US flags, it’s a quirk of their rather insular culture. A union flag may or may not feature in any GBR livery (if there ever actually is one), but I don’t personally feel it’s essential. If it is there I only hope that its incorporation is done tastefully.

Unless the signs actually needed changing why would you change them, it’s somewhat wasteful just for the sake of it.

Indeed, there are stations - including some major ones - still carrying signage from long defunct former TOCs because they aren’t due new signage yet!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

New article from RAIL where Lord Hendy talks about the issues facing SWR at the time of nationalisation:

Lord Hendy outlines work to do to improve renationalised South Western operation

South Western Railway became the first of ten operators to be nationalised as part of Labour's rail reform plans.

www.railmagazine.com

Speaking about South Western he added: “There’s a bit to do.

“It is, frankly, not perfect at the moment. Punctuality is not bad; cancellations are too high. They have a shortage of drivers. They have to get the new trains into service, because many have been sitting around for years.”

Hendy told RAIL: “If you’re a short-term franchise, you don’t necessarily think of the long-term health of the railway. Things are put off for the next people to deal with. Even on the South Western, franchise changeovers have not gone smoothly.”

He warned: “We will have to pay particular attention to cost, because it is too high. The bottom line is the net cost to the taxpayer and the best possible service to passengers. For the first time in 30 years, somebody will be in charge of both the operations and infrastructure, and be held accountable for the whole way the South Western will be run. That’s a really important moment.”

“They will have to sort the Arterios, some of which require repairs due to degradation before they’ve carried a passenger. Sort the union relationship. Run longer trains. Then have the first timetable recast since Andrew Haines did it more than 20 years ago, when he ran SWT (South West Trains), because the pattern of passenger demand is different now.

Interesting to see the timetable recast mentioned, which relies on the Arterios being ready.