Change to XC Branding

[Trainguy34]

One of my friends who are friends with a driver just told me that XC will be having a full refresh as well as reliveried trains, apparently turquoise. Does anyone know more info about this and if its true?

 

[m79900]

One of my friends who are friends with a driver just told me that XC will be having a full refresh as well as reliveried trains, apparently turquoise. Does anyone know more info about this and if its true?

I haven't heard about it, but I dread to see a turquoise Voyager, that'd look horrific.

 

[Trainguy34]

Also just reread it and there may be a raitour for voyagers. Just to double check, it's not April 1st is it?

EDIT: Heres the texts it's from

 

[AJDesiro]

If this was to happen, I wouldn't be against it. XC is one of the tattiest TOCs in terms of branding now - and I believe may even have the oldest branding of any TOC existing. I sincerely hope this does happen.

I'm not that well educated with the maintenance of the voyagers and 170s, but I don't seem to recall them ever having corrosion repair works, presumably, they're coming up to needing them, especially as the similarly aged 390s had corrosion works done a few years ago, so it makes sense to update their brand for this - the 22X livery is effectively VTWC livery with a few vinyls added.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I think it's one of the smartest liveries on the network, personally. Looks good on everything it's applied to and still looks current.

 

[JonathanH]

The use of 'owning group' branding - eg Arriva Turquoise - is something that the DfT are now keen to avoid, in favour of something that doesn't need to change when the owning group does.

 

[Trainguy34]

I think it's one of the smartest liveries on the network, personally. Looks good on everything it's applied to and still looks current.

Definitely agree

 

[Energy]

XC were one of the few companies to make brown work, though given how dirty they trains are it makes sense...

If they are going to change their branding I'd expect some uplift in service quality. Or just another pointless rebrand.

 

[Trainguy34]

XC were one of the few companies to make brown work, though given how dirty they trains are it makes sense...

If they are going to change their branding I'd expect some uplift in service quality. Or just another pointless rebrand.

Mosy likely the latter...

 

[Doctor Fegg]

If this was to happen, I wouldn't be against it. XC is one of the tattiest TOCs in terms of branding now - and I believe may even have the oldest branding of any TOC existing.

Southern is older, I think, albeit with a few minor colour adjustments. c2c has stayed largely the same too.

 

[AJDesiro]

Southern is older, I think, albeit with a few minor colour adjustments. c2c has stayed largely the same too.

Ah, I completely forgot about southern! c2c I believe changed their livery a few years ago from blue to white. XC is one of the oldest still.

 

[Energy]

Mosy likely the latter...

Indeed.

Southern is older, I think, albeit with a few minor colour adjustments. c2c has stayed largely the same too.

Southern oldest without any change, Southeastern following. Chiltern only changed their logo, livery otherwise identical on the 165s.

Grand Central despite starting operations in 2007 was founded in 2000. Here is their original logo (I can only find evidence of it from 2004 onwards) so GC might win on longest running colour scheme.



Back to XC, turquoise would be a suprising choice.

 

[Russel]

Following with interest...

 

[skyhigh]

In an era where costs are so tightly controlled I'd be very surprised if this is true.

 

[CAF397]

In an era where costs are so tightly controlled I'd be very surprised if this is true.

There is, however, a maintenence regime that is required to be continued, as we saw with the repaint of LNER Mark 4 sets. If the XC fleet requires bodywork repairs and examinations then they would need repainting anyway. As others have suggested, the 220/221 fleet are still basically as delivered from new, just with the XC branding slapped on.

Uniforms are also a continuous expense, replacing items with staff and providing to new hires. So, if managed carefully, a full rebrand is not as expensive as first thought.

 

[AlexNL]

The Pendolinos also had to be repainted towards the end of the VT franchise, as the paint is a layer protecting the bodywork underneath from corrosion. VT had to fight DfT hard to get permission to apply any sort of branding to the fleet, DfT wanted ghost white trains since the ICWC contract was nearing its end.

 

[m79900]

I honestly don't think they need to rebrand. When it's clean (admittedly not often) it still looks modern. I think they should fully repaint the voyagers, but keep the colour scheme.

 

[NSE]

I agree with others that I think it looks smart. The colour schemes works, it suits their trains nicely. Don’t get me wrong, a little refresh never hurt (sometimes) but they make the colour palette work and the uniforms look good.

 

[eusd]

I assume any rebrand would be tied up with a new contract award for XC as there are only a few months left on their current one.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

A brand is more than a train livery, of course. IMO XC's livery is fine (though it could become less cluttered by losing a few of the Xs), but their typography and print/online design are terrible - like a computer games magazine from c.1992 but with less verve.

 

[anthony263]

The class 170s need refurbishing. The one im on going to South Wigston from Birmingham at 0952 the seats are looking tired and battered

 

[RailWonderer]

The class 170s need refurbishing. The one im on going to South Wigston from Birmingham at 0952 the seats are looking tired and battered

Agree, the seat covers and carpets are threadbare and dirty in places. They also have the more cramped version of the Lazzerini seats compared to the ex-LM ones.

I'd like to see a Virgin style livery for XC and a deep clean for its 170s and Voyagers, added to doubling up more diagrams just a little would go a long way towards improving the image and quality of the brand. At the moment paying for an XC ticket is only worth more than Northern because it's faster and TPE because the train turns up more often (albeit delayed).

 

[anthony263]

Agree, the seat covers and carpets are threadbare and dirty in places. They also have the more cramped version of the Lazzerini seats compared to the ex-LM ones.

I'd like to see a Virgin style livery for XC and a deep clean for its 170s and Voyagers, added to doubling up more diagrams just a little would go a long way towards improving the image and quality of the brand. At the moment paying for an XC ticket is only worth more than Northern because it's faster and TPE because the train turns up more often (albeit delayed).

Crosscountry were not good this morning. 0640 and 0745 from Cardiff to Nottingham cancelled and I saw the 0930 from Birmingham yo Cardiff were cancelled.

The 0744 Edinburgh service from Bristol Parkway had to call at Worcestershire Parkway. Still got to New street on time even with the extra stop. Shows it can be done. Bloke i spoke to was due to catch the train from Birmingham so lucky for him he didn't need to change

 

[Russel]

Also just reread it and there may be a raitour for voyagers. Just to double check, it's not April 1st is it?

EDIT: Heres the texts it's from

Any update on this, given the message on Sunday said it was to be revealed "tomorrow", Monday...?

 

[JonathanH]

Seemingly not a valid rumour. Note that XC have a new advert currently airing with unchanged branding.

 

[azOOOOOma]

Seemingly not a valid rumour. Note that XC have a new advert currently airing with unchanged branding.

I thought the same myself. A lovely advert however. Brought a tear to my eye!

Laura x

 

[BHXDMT]

Seemingly not a valid rumour. Note that XC have a new advert currently airing with unchanged branding.

Staff had a Teams presentation on the new branding, livery and interiors last week.

 

[class397tpe]

Staff had a Teams presentation on the new branding, livery and interiors last week.

Is the turquoise like the ugly Arriva turquoise? Or something more muted.

Would be nice if this rebrand came with an announcement of new rolling stock and a total overhaul of the franchise.... I suspect it won't.

Agree with posters that the current XC livery looks good, but in my opinion the branding is a bit dated, especially the logos. The Voyager interiors are awful though as they are 20+ years old and like they were on day 1 with Virgin. Really needs a refurb.

 

[150249]

Staff had a Teams presentation on the new branding, livery and interiors last week.

So is it happening then?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jun 2023 ==

Is the turquoise like the ugly Arriva turquoise? Or something more muted.

I really liked the last Arriva livery, the two-tone turquoise. I do think the lighter one with the white swoops was too bright though

 

[class397tpe]

So is it happening then?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jun 2023 ==


I really liked the last Arriva livery, the two-tone turquoise. I do think the lighter one with the white swoops was too bright though

I do like the latest one on buses tbh, see the pics in the article here: https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23296746.new-fleet-12-arriva-wales-buses-launched-bangor/

It's the transport for Wales one I was thinking of - but my main issue with that livery was the use of cream which I thought looked awful with the turquoise.