LNER launching a mascot

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Some people have managed to get offended by it, as this tweet shows.

https://twitter.com/Failure2include/status/1744401335980548535

That's ridiculous. People will take it to any extent these days.

 

[occone]

Thanks to him, I can never look at a window again without hearing “Don’t strike it in the middle, as the glass will just flex.”

Don't forget to keep striking, as the windows are double glazed.

 

[TreacleMiller]

"Whensa your dolmio day"

 

[Joe Paxton]

So LNER joins these TOCs on the mascot bandwagon so far:

GA - Origami hare
TPE - Bucket & spade
SWR - Pigeon & seagull (why?? The latter absolutely would tear to shreds & devour the former in real life!)
GWR - Famous Five
EMR - Miles the cat like muppet

Just to respond to this early post back on the first page of this thread!

SWR's pigeon and seagull surely represent the city (& if specifics are needed, then London) and the coast.

 

[James101]

There's nothing wrong with cost-effective, honest marketing.

I’m not sure but are you suggesting one campaign is the above and one isn’t? Because I can’t see the difference between them.

 

[Purple Train]

Just to respond to this early post back on the first page of this thread!

SWR's pigeon and seagull surely represent the city (& if specifics are needed, then London) and the coast.

Which London football club is known as The Pigeons, I wonder?

 

[Starmill]

I’m not sure but are you suggesting one campaign is the above and one isn’t? Because I can’t see the difference between them.

No not at all.

 

[yorksrob]

I still prefer Miles I think.

 

[Travelmonkey]

I wonder who XC will come up with,

 

[Horizon22]

No not at all.

But you said:

There's nothing wrong with cost-effective, honest marketing.

So what’s your comparison between this one and the old ad which was running for a year or more?

 

[Travelmonkey]

I like the effort Miles has for EMR and I don't blame TOCs for marketing, there are loads of dodgy companies with shocking ads but ultimately the bad ones still around like the go compare man or the compare the market meerkats.

I do want a monkey mascot, can we convince merseyrail into it.

*photo of my monkey in blue Pj's sat on a Miles statue*

 

[43066]

I like the effort Miles has for EMR and I don't blame TOCs for marketing, there are loads of dodgy companies with shocking ads but ultimately the bad ones still around like the go compare man or the compare the market meerkats.

I do want a monkey mascot, can we convince merseyrail into it.

*photo of my monkey in blue Pj's sat on a Miles statue*

It’s just a pity EMR have insisted on dressing up their staff to look like Miles .

 

[Joe Paxton]

I wonder who XC will come up with,

(Wartime poster from the Railway Executive Committee asking "Is your journey really necessary?")

 

[CarrotPie]

View attachment 150121

(Wartime poster from the Railway Executive Committee asking "Is your journey really necessary?")

And if it is,

XC picture: "Don't leave it too late"

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I wonder who XC will come up with,

A re-imagination of the 'Stella Artois' advertising strapline from 25-30 or so years ago...?

(Pic of a small flipchart stating "Reassuringly expensive").

 

[Starmill]

But you said:



So what’s your comparison between this one and the old ad which was running for a year or more?

There wasn't one. That was the whole point though, I was hinting that the previous campaign was very likely to fit those criteria, while for the new one leaving it up to the reader to decide.

 

[Travelmonkey]

A re-imagination of the 'Stella Artois' advertising strapline from 25-30 or so years ago...?
View attachment 150124
(Pic of a small flipchart stating "Reassuringly expensive").

Indeed Monday I have a £78 trip with them sinking a extra £9 hoping for a seatfrog upgrade.

 

[LowLevel]

View attachment 150121

(Wartime poster from the Railway Executive Committee asking "Is your journey really necessary?")

That actually make me chuckle quite a lot, bravo

 

[maniacmartin]

“every journey matters” according to TFL

 

[Geordiepedal]

Oh dear. What’s the purpose of that meant to be?

It's called an advertisement campaign.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It's called an advertisement campaign.

Honestly I’m not sure whether to be highly flattered or insulted that your first ever post was made purely to patronise me Welcome nevertheless.

I’m very aware of what an advertisement campaign is Do you wish to add any more information about the studies done that show mascots influence people to use the railway more? Only my enquiry was not as to why they are running an advertising campaign, more as to why they’ve decided to take it in that direction.

 

[Starmill]

Honestly I’m not sure whether to be highly flattered or insulted that your first ever post was made purely to patronise me Welcome nevertheless.

I’m very aware of what an advertisement campaign is Do you wish to add any more information about the studies done that show mascots influence people to use the railway more? Only my enquiry was not as to why they are running an advertising campaign, more as to why they’ve decided to take it in that direction.

Nothing railway-specific: however, in marketing circles fictional mascots have in some ways taken the place of celebrity campaign deals for big brands in recent years as a supposed strategy for "de-risking" marketing spending - that is to say the fictional character can't be accused of unethical behaviour. That probably explains a little bit of their resurgence.

Sometimes I wonder if these things are a bit cyclical, and in a few years the marketing consultants will be emphasising the importance of actually real humans for connecting with the consumer through marketing. But what do I know.

 

[Adam Williams]

that is to say the fictional character can't be accused of unethical behaviour

Wasn't Eleanor accused of cultural appropriation up-thread?

 

[Starmill]

Wasn't Eleanor accused of cultural appropriation up-thread?

I did think that as I was typing it . Luckily I think that most people would recognise that Eleanor doesn't actually have the agency to respond to such criticisms themself

 

[Michael.Y]

Given today's fare announcement, she should have, to quote Peter Kay, a "mask and a striped jumper."

 

[ComUtoR]

Given today's fare announcement

What announcement ?


I thought the fare increase was announced last year to be 4.9% in March

 

[Bletchleyite]

What announcement ?


I thought the fare increase was announced last year to be 4.9% in March

Umm, how did you miss:

LNER to pilot removal of Off-Peak tickets

LNER is to pilot the replacement of Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets on certain flows (Kings Cross to Newcastle, Berwick and Edinburgh) with a new '70-minute Flex' ticket. During the trial there will be only three fare types available: Anytime, 70-min Flex, and Advance. From...

www.railforums.co.uk

?

 

[ComUtoR]

Umm, how did you miss:

1. I didn't miss the thread (however it is located in a part of the forum I rarely frequent.)
2. Didn't check the date (its old news tbh and the changes to ticketing has been discussed months ago. Maybe not specifically on LNER)
3. I thought the poster was referring to the national fares, not anything LNER specific (hence my reference to the 4.9%)
4. Forum rules state that you should provide a link when referring to a external source (wasn't fussed, thought I'd ask politely first)
5. If in doubt, ask for clarity

 

[MrJeeves]

Didn't check the date (its old news tbh and the changes to ticketing has been discussed months ago. Maybe not specifically on LNER)

This is a slightly different scheme where the only flexible ticket will be an anytime and all other tickets will be ±70min booked train only.

"Old news" being announced today.

 

[AlexNL]

I purchased a "Miles" when EMR was doing a charity sale, but only to see how the cat would react.

I bought one too, but only to keep my SNCF mascots company. I swear.



Picture of a plush toy made after EMR's "Miles" mascot alongside three pink Idix 'blobs' (mascots used by the French railways, SNCF, in the mid-2000s).