The only confusion i see is the DfT letting new franchises change the TOCs name every time the franchise changes, so going forward if a TOC operates with the same name then the confusion will mainly go away.
There was nothing wrong with Virgin Trains Pendolino service to... or Virgin Trains Super Voyager service to... or LNER Azuma service to... Trying to get an Intercity service to stand out more.
If it's a commuter train, who cares about names, you want a seat or maybe a bit of personnel standing space to get to and from work on time.
So if it's to be Avanti, then Surely Avanti Trains Pendolino service to... or Avanti West Coast service to... or Avanti Intercity service to... will be recognizable and acceptable. People get used to names if there left alone.
The problem with LNER, like has been said is that Azuma is down the sides of the leading vehicles on the trains so looks more like a TOC name rather than the trains nickname. Should have LNER down the side of each vehicle.
Please let's not get boring like the rest of Europe!
Am I the only one who finds the prospect of Avanti Trains, if that’s what it’s going to be, distinctly naff?
To me it’s utterly meaningless, and as a brand it sounds more like some like of car insurance provider rather than the operator of what should be Britain’s premier main line. It also contrasts rather negatively with a number of the other recent brands like LNER, SWR or GWR.
There would have to be some pretty top-notch marketing to make it a household name IMO. Even c2c (which I’ve also never liked) is functionally better as at least it’s catchy and somehow seems to chime with the franchise area.
I suspect Avanti will go the same way as one and Abellio, in other words in the dustbin sooner rather than later. Even meaningless Silverlink attempted to convey some sense of purpose.
Are they trying to build up a copycat of the Virgin brand image? If so it simply won’t work IMO as Virgin is built on the high flamboyant media-friendly Branson image as well as being an already-established high-profile brand. Avanti simply won’t have this to prop it up.
IMO they can do better than this nonsense!