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West Coast Partnership: Awarded to First Trenitalia
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TT-ONR-NRN
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Yes but this franchise unlike LNER isn’t becoming under government control. LMS may have been registered as another just in case brand for if Virgin Trains WC collapsed?
Jorge Da Silva
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Good point. LMS is still my bet and my preferred option.
py_megapixel
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390151 has been reliveried into plain white with just the First Class symbols, yellow warning panel and the required text. Is the start of debranding or has it just been sent out partway through application of the Azuma-style livery?
(The attached image says "screenshot" because the only way I could persuade it to upload here was to take the picture then take a screenshot of it.
(The attached image says "screenshot" because the only way I could persuade it to upload here was to take the picture then take a screenshot of it.
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EE Andy b1
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Already been discussed here...
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/virgin-trains-vtwc-new-livery-being-introduced.151634/page-30
The last few will all be neutral livery, the last set done might get FT new branding.
EE Andy b1
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RealTrains07
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Cant be right i was at stoke last week. Nothing had been changed
EE Andy b1
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RealTrains07
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I think its very early compared to other franchise changeovers for branding to go to be honest. I would have been very surprised if they had kept to the suggested timetableWhy would you expect things to be running to time on the railway?
EE Andy b1
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Well that is Virgins timetable, whether they meet it or not is another matter but First Trenitalia will want it all gone.
As the Virgin brand is used under licence and they are in the business of licensing the brand (e.g. Virgin Media is owned by Liberty Global not Virgin) they might be driving the early removal.
The virgin brand is so closely associated with traveling by train in the UK with so many passengers over the last 22 years due to the extent of the WCML. Speculating here but I wouldn't be surprised is we see "Virgin Train Tickets" or similar been licensed by Trainline (who provide the booking platform online to Virgin Trains).
Agent_Squash
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Would definitely be coming back around, considering Trainline was started by Virgin back in 1997!
The draft pdfs of the December national rail timetable still show the operator code as VT. Mind you, they still show West Midlands Trains/London Northwestern as LM. Apparently it's too difficult to change systems.
Virgin are going to love that, especially if things take a downward turn.
Virgin are going to love that, especially if things take a downward turn.
Not particularly. The former FCC routes changed code from FC to GN or TL as the franchise changed.
LNER services still show as GR. There have been what, four different operators since GNER ran any trains?
Class 466
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It costs a lot to change for something that none of the customer facing systems use. TL/GN only did it to separate out the business units with a bit of government funding...
ashkeba
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None of the customer facing systems except timetable posters and leaflets?
One could argue that, in some respects, considering the potential confusion during a franchise change with branding in flux that having consistency in the TOC code is actually helpful...
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The thing about VT is that it's a brand...could Virgin insist on it being changed?
Of course, changing it now would give away the new brand
Of course, changing it now would give away the new brand
ashkeba
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Yes, they probably don't want to do that or risk the generic WC being used!The thing about VT is that it's a brand...could Virgin insist on it being changed?
Of course, changing it now would give away the new brand
Bletchleyite
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"WC" was used in the transitional period, I believe. Nobody seemed to laugh at it then!
ashkeba
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More that it is confusing with people thinking only those trains have toilets!"WC" was used in the transitional period, I believe. Nobody seemed to laugh at it then!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
FWIW, back then it was easy to change and was changed at most franchise swaps. What's changed now to make it harder?
Only those trains have talking toilets. I wonder if the replacements will speak in suave Italian?
EE Andy b1
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"WC" was used in the transitional period, I believe. Nobody seemed to laugh at it then!
GR is still used for LNER. It stood for GNER of course, for which Alliance Rail currently own (and, AIUI, always have owned) the rights to.
transmanche
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The GNER trademark and logos were originally registered in 1996/7 by Sea Containers - specifically Sea Containers Railway Services Limited. They are now classed by the IPO as 'dead'.
There doesn't appear to be any mention of GNER on the Alliance Rail website.
ScottGallagher
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They are doing a great job of keeping the new name and branding under wraps as it must be all decided by now, must be time for staff roadshows soon where they should be told?
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
We'll find out how good they are at it when they release it. Quite a lot of us think we already know the brand.
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