First TPE's Nova brand for their new trains

[59CosG95]

Mod Note: Posts #1 - #16 originally in this thread.

A friend of mine sent me this picture the other day - turns out the marketing team have got to the new TPE fleets.
The 802s are due to become "Nova 1s", the 397s "Nova 2s" and the Mk5As "Nova 3s"; maybe this ties in quite nicely with the TPE Star logo and the sci-fi inspired names that the new TPE 68s are due to get...

 

[Bletchleyite]

A friend of mine sent me this picture the other day - turns out the marketing team have got to the new TPE fleets.
The 802s are due to become "Nova 1s", the 397s "Nova 2s" and the Mk5As "Nova 3s"; maybe this ties in quite nicely with the TPE Star logo and the sci-fi inspired names that the new TPE 68s are due to get...

There's something proper grown-up and European about that lineup, isn't there? Particularly the "proper train" (as you could call it) on the left.

 

[Bantamzen]

A friend of mine sent me this picture the other day - turns out the marketing team have got to the new TPE fleets.
The 802s are due to become "Nova 1s", the 397s "Nova 2s" and the Mk5As "Nova 3s"; maybe this ties in quite nicely with the TPE Star logo and the sci-fi inspired names that the new TPE 68s are due to get...

I'd totally forgotten about the driving trailers on the TPE MKVs, so that image of one on the left threw me for a second.....

Had top laugh at one of the reasons for the 'Nova' naming, "an explosion of light". Is that a reference to the new LED lights that are becoming standard? I made the mistake recently at staring directly at some on the front of a 185 coming into Leeds, wow they are bright....

 

[Domh245]

It's a nice touch, and it certainly sounds better than Azuma (by a small amount). I can't help but wonder if the 185s will pick up a Nova name (0 perhaps) or if this is just for the new fleets.

I made the mistake recently at staring directly at some on the front of a 185 coming into Leeds, wow they are bright....

Just wait till you do the same with the latest lamps!

 

[59CosG95]

Had top laugh at one of the reasons for the 'Nova' naming, "an explosion of light". Is that a reference to the new LED lights that are becoming standard? I made the mistake recently at staring directly at some on the front of a 185 coming into Leeds, wow they are bright....

"No Mother, it's just the Northern Lights".
(

)

 

[superalbs]

That's a good set of names, better than the 'IET' that GWR went with, and leaps and bounds ahead of "Azuma".

Nice brand overall, looking real smart.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's amazing how First seem to be changing so significantly (and positively) now Lockhead is off the scene.

 

[Domh245]

"No Mother, it's just the Northern Lights".

I hope we can look forward to a variety of steamed food being served on board, even if they are obviously grilled!

 

[59CosG95]

I hope we can look forward to a variety of steamed food being served on board, even if they are obviously grilled!

If there was an upvoting system on the forum, you'd have my vote!

 

[driver_m]

I'd totally forgotten about the driving trailers on the TPE MKVs, so that image of one on the left threw me for a second.....

Had top laugh at one of the reasons for the 'Nova' naming, "an explosion of light". Is that a reference to the new LED lights that are becoming standard? I made the mistake recently at staring directly at some on the front of a 185 coming into Leeds, wow they are bright....

Wait til you see a 68 hauling the same train fairly soon. You'll need a pair of sunglasses! Insanely bright .

 

[Domh245]

If there was an upvoting system on the forum, you'd have my vote!

Ditto - I must admit that I wasn't expecting to come across that video on here, but it was a pleasant surprise.

 

[Bantamzen]

Wait til you see a 68 hauling the same train fairly soon. You'll need a pair of sunglasses! Insanely bright .

I'll keep that in mind when the 68s starting hauling!!!

 

[Nymanic]

A friend of mine sent me this picture the other day - turns out the marketing team have got to the new TPE fleets.
The 802s are due to become "Nova 1s", the 397s "Nova 2s" and the Mk5As "Nova 3s"; maybe this ties in quite nicely with the TPE Star logo and the sci-fi inspired names that the new TPE 68s are due to get...

The full publication appears to be available online.

 

[Mollman]

And of course no mention of the 185s in the new naming line up which some of us will be stuck with!

 

[43096]

It's amazing how First seem to be changing so significantly (and positively) now Lockhead is off the scene.

SWR and (in particular) GWR passengers might disagree with that statement.

 

[59CosG95]

SWR and (in particular) GWR passengers might disagree with that statement.

Agree with 43096 on this one. All that's changed since Lockhead's departure is more investment in TPE, which some could attribute to Keolis no longer being involved. One could say that the ruling thing that occurred when Lockhead was in power was the application of FirstGroup logos across every service, and making absolutely everything a mix of either "Barbie" or "Dynamic Lines".
Operationally, the livery of a train (yellow fronts excluded) is neither here nor there.
And not many people like the new TPE colours either...again, personal preference.

It's pure coincidence that First seem to be getting all the luck with GWR and TPE; the GWR fleet needed replacing anyway, and TPE's gone through a tremendous usage boom, such that new orders for stock could dovetail in nicely with Network Rail's infrastructure improvements.

 

[ash39]

And of course no mention of the 185s in the new naming line up which some of us will be stuck with!

Maybe they'll be the Nova 4(gotten...)

Surprising how similar the 397's and 802's look in TPE livery.

 

[Mikey C]

My first thought on hearing the name "Nova"...

 

[HainultLoop]

I have to admit I am not a fan of any TOC giving brand names to their trains. For example, what happens if they lose the franchise next time around? New names? I doubt a new franchise holder will want to keep the names used by a different company going. The trains and the livery look very smart but I wish they hadn't followed Virgin with 'Azuma' into giving brand names.

Although I have to admit some of these names that have stayed in the public consciousness are good, 'Pendolino' and 'Voyager' being good examples. But Nova 1,2,3? I'll just get confused

 

[Mikey C]

I have to admit I am not a fan of any TOC giving brand names to their trains. For example, what happens if they lose the franchise next time around? New names? I doubt a new franchise holder will want to keep the names used by a different company going. The trains and the livery look very smart but I wish they hadn't followed Virgin with 'Azuma' into giving brand names.

Although I have to admit some of these names that have stayed in the public consciousness are good, 'Pendolino' and 'Voyager' being good examples. But Nova 1,2,3? I'll just get confused

Isn't Pendolino a manufacturers name like Electrostar and Desiro etc?

I guess as they were unique to Virgin in the UK, they felt no need to come up with their own name (and Pendolino is a cool name anyway!)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn't Pendolino a manufacturers name like Electrostar and Desiro etc?

Yes, it is indeed.

 

[HainultLoop]

Isn't Pendolino a manufacturers name like Electrostar and Desiro etc?

Ah yes of course it is! Slipped my mind.

 

[JaJaWa]

Surely the refurbished 185s should have been Nova 1? Bit weird having 4 train classes with 1 named completely differently.

Think 4 different names (could have all been spaced themed) would have worked better and easier to remember/say than 1, 2 and 3.

 

[class387]

I like this, as I do the rest of the TPE brand/livery. Seems professional and well designed, unlike some other TOCs. First's branding recently have all been very good starting with GWR - so much better than the old purple and pink on every operator.

Edit: See [URL="https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/first-tpes-nova-brand-for-their-new-trains.161101/page-2#post-3348430"]post[/URL]

 

[Non Multi]

My first thought on hearing the name "Nova"...

Reminds me that it was sold as the Opel Corsa on the continent. In Spanish no va means - "doesn't go"!

 

[jamesontheroad]

Reminds me that it was sold as the Opel Corsa on the continent. In Spanish no va means - "doesn't go"!

Indeed! Sure going to impress any of the 400,000,000 native Spanish speakers who hop on a train after flying into Manchester Airport

Like Mikey C, as a child of the eighties I immediately thought of the Vauxhall. I guess anyone born after 1990 won't be so bothered.

 

[pemma]

And of course no mention of the 185s in the new naming line up which some of us will be stuck with!

Note that old TPE referred to them as 'Pennine' trains when they were first introduced but the name didn't stick, enthusiasts and rail workers just called them Desiros, while regular passengers just called them 'too small.'

 

[squizzler]

Indeed! Sure going to impress any of the 400,000,000 native Spanish speakers who hop on a train after flying into Manchester Airport

The CAF execs will probably have to bite their tongues when asked to apply the branding too!

 

[pemma]

Reminds me that it was sold as the Opel Corsa on the continent. In Spanish no va means - "doesn't go"!

Indeed! Sure going to impress any of the 400,000,000 native Spanish speakers who hop on a train after flying into Manchester Airport

Don't forget an Austrian village with practically no places of interest gets loads of American tourists just because it's name is a rude word in the English language. Maybe we'll see a flood of Spanish speaking enthusiastics who want to see the Spanish built train with the funny name.

 

[HainultLoop]

Don't forget an Austrian village with practically no places of interest gets loads of American tourists just because it's name is a rude word in the English language. Maybe we'll see a flood of Spanish speaking enthusiastic who want to see the Spanish built train with the funny name.

So that's why they gave it such a ridiculous name - to tap into a new market! Clever TPE