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Will LNER ever name Azumas in the same way that GNER, VTEC, etc did with the 91s?

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DarloRich

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Once named a loco or unit should retain that name for life. Imagine if Flying Scotsman had been renamed for its US tour. Or the deltics renamed when transfered to York. It is like renaming people when the move regions. It is said it is unlucky to rename boats.
Azumas should be named and name carried on front rear and side of leading cars. Names should not be commercial but something the travelling public feel a bond with .

If LNER did, which in this case I would very much hope not. They would do the same as GWR and name one 800 with a dozen names which are just vinyl and NOT Nameplate's which are certainly nit the same thing.

If they do, I hope they name the units properly and not give a separate name to each driving car a la GWR.

Are these "rules" written down somewhere?

Why not, its a personal thing.The WR named 47's always looked a lot more majestic in the early 70,s than the unnamed ones operating other top linked services. Then in the late 70'2 early we got some really stupid names which made the loco look a laughable

More majestic? What a load of nonsense!

The average passenger doesn't care a hoof. They care abour safety, cleanliness, timeliness and a fair price.

I don't think the travelling public really care.
It's something only a very limited amount of people really care about.

Correct - Any names these days need some kind of PR link.

They should name them after racehorses, like some of the Deltics. Can I nominate "Blink Bonny", a horse for which a pub next to the ECML is named next to the level crossing a Christon Bank?

Do you think normals know more than 2 race horses: Red Rum & Desert Orchid
 
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hexagon789

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I get that, but I think the romantic age of rail is long, long, long behind us in this connected world. It may generate some short term interest but I maintain that naming trains has no material impact long term. I've had enough delays behind named locomotives and units!

Probably not, but I almost guarantee we'll see individual trains named for many years yet. I think named services will go first.
 

mmh

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I don't think so, IETs and their ironing board seats hardly conjur feelings of resurgence

GWR's branding and marketing is hugely nostalgic, and quite charming.

Many other TOCs have done similar, to a lesser or greater extent. GNER, LNER, Southern, Grand Central...

I think the chances of a new "one" or "c2c" equivalent appearing are very limited.
 

samuelmorris

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GWR's branding and marketing is hugely nostalgic, and quite charming.

Many other TOCs have done similar, to a lesser or greater extent. GNER, LNER, Southern, Grand Central...

I think the chances of a new "one" or "c2c" equivalent appearing are very limited.
Unless more open access operators turn up, but that seems unlikely at present.
 

gazthomas

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GWR's branding and marketing is hugely nostalgic, and quite charming.

Many other TOCs have done similar, to a lesser or greater extent. GNER, LNER, Southern, Grand Central...

I think the chances of a new "one" or "c2c" equivalent appearing are very limited.
But how does a name and some paint make a good customer experience?
 

Sprinter153

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GWR's branding and marketing is hugely nostalgic, and quite charming.

But the delivery is still lacklustre, the same old bad habits with a spindly serif font and brass jacket buttons, or what my mother would call ‘all fur coat, no knickers’
 

xotGD

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Good point. 3 horses. 3. Know widely to the public. 3. Not the 65 nee dot name the entire Azuma fleet.
I proposed on another thread several months ago that the Azumas should all be named after past winners of the St Ledger. Doncaster connection, and all that. Plus some Deltic names would get to be reused.
 

DarloRich

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I proposed on another thread several months ago that the Azumas should all be named after past winners of the St Ledger. Doncaster connection, and all that. Plus some Deltic names would get to be reused.

I am certain the names of St Ledger winners and Deltic locomotives are well known to the general public! I have just looked at the list of St Ledger winners in my lifetime. I know none of them. Also it will be great to use the names of long defunct regiments on trains in the 21st century!

Can we try to be realistic please?
 

samuelmorris

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In any event it seems very rare for all the units of any given class to be named these days. Other than when Virgin did it I can't think of a single example since privatisation.
 

delt1c

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Are these "rules" written down somewhere?



More majestic? What a load of nonsense!





Correct - Any names these days need some kind of PR link.



Do you think normals know more than 2 race horses: Red Rum & Desert Orchid
Fact , fiction or your personal views?
 

xotGD

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I am certain the names of St Ledger winners and Deltic locomotives are well known to the general public! I have just looked at the list of St Ledger winners in my lifetime. I know none of them. Also it will be great to use the names of long defunct regiments on trains in the 21st century!

Can we try to be realistic please?
I had a similar response the first time I proposed this!
 

DarloRich

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I had a similar response the first time I proposed this!

no problem with naming trains but we have to look at what resonates with both TOC's and people in the 21st century. You might get away with naming a train The St Ledger but i doubt the winner of that race would resonate.
 

xotGD

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no problem with naming trains but we have to look at what resonates with both TOC's and people in the 21st century. You might get away with naming a train The St Ledger but i doubt the winner of that race would resonate.
Rename the whole lot from Azuma to "St Ledger Class". Each set to carry a photo of the horse it is named after in each coach. I can run with this...
 

jopsuk

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Once named a loco or unit should retain that name for life. Imagine if Flying Scotsman had been renamed for its US tour. Or the deltics renamed when transfered to York. It is like renaming people when the move regions. It is said it is unlucky to rename boats.
Azumas should be named and name carried on front rear and side of leading cars. Names should not be commercial but something the travelling public feel a bond with .
12 of the 35 A4s were renamed at least once, mainly in the 30s and 40s. 3 of the Gresley A1/A3s were too. Renaming was maybe not common in the "golden age" but certainly wasn't frowned upon.
 

43096

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Is it? The use of brand names like gWr and classic style liveries definitely seems to be trying hard for a resurgence of it, and I think with gWr some success, too.
The whole GWR re-brand was after WorstGroup realised just what a toxic brand they had become. All the naff retro nonsense (GWR brand, green livery, “Castle” name for HSTs etc etc) is just a desperate attempt to paper over the cracks and hope no-one notices. In reality, it’s still the same ***** company it always has been, with the same idiots in charge (“Hapless Hopwood” and co). If anyone is still falling for it then they’re naïve.
 

delt1c

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no idea what you are talking about. Sorry. Could you try again?
More majestic? What a load of nonsense
Fact, fiction or your opinion? I was there in the 70’s and the WR 47’s were always sought after and noticed.
 

DarloRich

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More majestic? What a load of nonsense
Fact, fiction or your opinion? I was there in the 70’s and the WR 47’s were always sought after and noticed.

That is romanticised nonsense. As if someone in the real world would pass up a train because it wasn't hauled by a named "WR" 47! It makes absolutely no difference. You might well have sought after these locomotives for your notebook but real people couldn't give a hoot.
 
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dubscottie

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But how does a name and some paint make a good customer experience?

It works. Its why companies have "Brand Experience Managers" (I absolutely detest the term "experience". Its overused to describe everything.)

Colours and names can give a false sense of quality. That is why most "premium" ranges in supermarkets have black packaging with gold text. It makes you think it is of a higher quality.

People form a lasting impression of something within seconds based on how it looks. So appearance (named trains or paint plus 101 otherthings) has a massive part to play in customer satisfaction.
 

delt1c

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That is romanticised nonsense. As if someone in the real world would pass up a train because it wasn't hauled by a named "WR" 47! It makes absolutely no difference. You might well have sought after these locomotives for your notebook but real people couldn't give a hoot.
So it is purely your personal opinion, Remember parents taking their children (not enthusiasts) to see the name on the engine before boarding at termini. "Romanticised" no way fact i was there
 
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