Abellio wins West Midlands franchise

[387star]

London Midland did a good job replacing all their station signage... the black signage is smart and replaced tatty regional railways signage

So all the BR legacy stock, the 323, 319s, 150s and 153s, will be leaving the franchise?

 

[Bletchleyite]

London Midland did a good job replacing all their station signage... the black signage is smart and replaced tatty regional railways signage

Yes, if there's one thing LM have got absolutely right it's presentation and image. I can't think of any other TOC, past or present, that has put quite so much attention into that.

 

[Domh245]

Yes, if there's one thing LM have got absolutely right it's presentation and image. I can't think of any other TOC, past or present, that has put quite so much attention into that.

Virgin?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Virgin?

In general maybe, however some of their stations leave a lot to be desired: plenty of those further north still retain the old BR IC era signage for example. LM have renewed and rebranded pretty much every last feature of their stations over the past decade, from signs to benches!

 

[LOL The Irony]

In general maybe, however some of their stations leave a lot to be desired: plenty of those further north still retain the old BR IC era signage for example. LM have renewed and rebranded pretty much every last feature of their stations over the past decade, from signs to benches!

Macclesfield is looking tatty apperently

 

[sufian123]

What will happen to the Walsall-Liverpool services? Are they going to run, if 350 going to have a different names?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Virgin?

I did sort-of think them, but they are not quite in the same league. Even the Marston Vale stations, neglected for many years, have had a new set of signage.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In general maybe, however some of their stations leave a lot to be desired: plenty of those further north still retain the old BR IC era signage for example.

I suppose it helps that they too were red-bordered!

Warrington BQ, by the way, had a full new set of BR-style signage because it needed replacing very close to the original franchise end. It's actually only a few years old.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Warrington BQ, by the way, had a full new set of BR-style signage because it needed replacing very close to the original franchise end. It's actually only a few years old.

I was aware, I can remember it happening. The signage from way back when is still going strong at the likes of Wigan NW and Preston though. It is only in the past couple of years that the red and navy has spread to the nameboards at the three Cumbrian stations.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I recall there being a proposal to standardise station signage nationally to white-on-blue, as per SWT/SWR I believe. I wonder why that didn't happen? Airports are near enough standard worldwide with Schiphol (they did it first) yellow-on-grey which is even used at Gatwick Airport railway station.

 

[387star]

Southeastern, South west trains and Southern seemed to replace all station signage as well

 

[DenmarkRail]

On another side note, if Barlastone or Wedgewood stations were to reopen, the only money needed to be spent, would be the standardisation of signage... Would cost virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Also, lots of new houses in Wedgewood that would use the train!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

... And the cost of coping stones, since Barlaston's at least have disappeared; as well as the money needed for assessing the safety of the existing structures at both sites and the more substantial but disused buildings at Barlaston. It would be interesting to know if London Midland have had any responsibility to ensure that Barlaston and Wedgwood have been kept up to such a standard as is required for operational stations. I dread to think how much some of the repairs necessary after a decade of abandonment could cost.

 

[JaJaWa]

On another side note, if Barlastone or Wedgewood stations were to reopen, the only money needed to be spent, would be the standardisation of signage... Would cost virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Also, lots of new houses in Wedgewood that would use the train!

One of them is going to reopen under the new franchise

 

[ChrisHogan]

... And the cost of coping stones, since Barlaston's at least have disappeared; as well as the money needed for assessing the safety of the existing structures at both sites and the more substantial but disused buildings at Barlaston. It would be interesting to know if London Midland have had any responsibility to ensure that Barlaston and Wedgwood have been kept up to such a standard as is required for operational stations. I dread to think how much some of the repairs necessary after a decade of abandonment could cost.

One of the reasons why Barlaston and Wedgwood lost their services (apart from the SRA not wanting anything delaying the Euston-Manchesters via Stoke and CT wanting to save a unit) was that Network Rail relaid/recanted/altered the trackwork through these two stations (and Etruria) significantly worsening the platform stepping distances. Network Rail didn't have the money to rebuild the station platforms to make them compliant with Group Standards and so any responsibility to restore them to an operationally acceptable condition will lie with Network Rail.

 

[DenmarkRail]

So is one of them 100% Confirmed to reopen in the new franchise? I've read a lot about it, but never heard any solid confirmation... Shame it's not Norton Bridge, but understand the reasons for the closure there.

 

[cactustwirly]

Yes, if there's one thing LM have got absolutely right it's presentation and image. I can't think of any other TOC, past or present, that has put quite so much attention into that.

East Midlands Trains?

 

[centraltrains]

So does anyone know when LM will begin de-branding trains and stations?

Do London Midland logos have to be removed from station signs and trains before 10th December. Not a great deal of time left.

There is still a poster on the pay phone at either Bearley or Claverdon station (I forget which) which has the Central Trains logo on it!

 

[strawbrick]

Yes, if there's one thing LM have got absolutely right it's presentation and image. I can't think of any other TOC, past or present, that has put quite so much attention into that.

As an example of this, at HML LM put up a number of "gold" station names in recognition of the gold medals won by Hemel Hempsteadonians in the 2012 Olympics. Hopefully the new operators will leave them in place.

With respect to the timing of re-branding, Silverlink ran a special tour over all their lines on the last day of their franchise. As we returned to HML late that night, the Silverlink branding on the internal signs on our train was being carefully trimmed off and when we arrived at HML the word Silverlink on the station signage had already been covered!

 

[DJames]

As an example of this, at HML LM put up a number of "gold" station names in recognition of the gold medals won by Hemel Hempsteadonians in the 2012 Olympics. Hopefully the new operators will leave them in place.

Not just at Hemel Hempstead, they're at stations across the LM network, and more were added after the 2016 Olympics, including Kidderminster and Bromsgrove out of the ones near me.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Stone and Sutton Coldfield were another two. There were quite a few mind!

Edit - Northampton too!

 

[Goldfish62]

I recall there being a proposal to standardise station signage nationally to white-on-blue, as per SWT/SWR I believe. I wonder why that didn't happen? Airports are near enough standard worldwide with Schiphol (they did it first) yellow-on-grey which is even used at Gatwick Airport railway station.

As I understand it, SWT was the pilot under the last Labour government. It all got shelved by the coalition.

 

[sk688]

With regards to the 350s , will Abeillo be changing the interiors ?

Only asking as the 350/1s could defintely do with a refurb ,but then if they do the 1s, they'd have to do the 350/3s as well , which are only 3-4 years old

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, a refurb is planned. I'd expect the seats to be retained (nothing wrong with them) but for new base foams and covers on the /1s, and new covers only on the /3s and /4s.

 

[sk688]

Yes, a refurb is planned. I'd expect the seats to be retained (nothing wrong with them) but for new base foams and covers on the /1s, and new covers only on the /3s and /4s.

Thanks . Good to see the 1s finally getting some love

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks . Good to see the 1s finally getting some love

A few of the worst seats have had new foams and bases in the original colour, they are fairly obvious by not being threadbare!

 

[DJames]

Do all of the 350/1s have the blue and yellow interiors? One of them turned up instead of a 350/2 on one of the Wolves-Walsall locals the other day, but apart from that, I haven't been on one for a good while.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do all of the 350/1s have the blue and yellow interiors? One of them turned up instead of a 350/2 on one of the Wolves-Walsall locals the other day, but apart from that, I haven't been on one for a good while.

Yes, all of them have the original interior.

 

[E_Reeves]

As an example of this, at HML LM put up a number of "gold" station names in recognition of the gold medals won by Hemel Hempsteadonians in the 2012 Olympics. Hopefully the new operators will leave them in place.

I've noticed that Bedworth station has a gold version of LM signage too.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Not just at Hemel Hempstead, they're at stations across the LM network, and more were added after the 2016 Olympics, including Kidderminster and Bromsgrove out of the ones near me.

The one at Kidderminster has been donated to the NRM