Unliveried Pendolino spotted @Polesworth

[ThreeNinty]

Found a pendolino stripped of Virgin branding working the 1S58 London Euston—Glasgow Central. (Sadly didn't see number) Is this to do with impending FirstGroup takeover? Hmmm...

 

[dk1]

Found a pendolino stripped of Virgin branding working the 1S58 London Euston—Glasgow Central. (Sadly didn't see number) Is this to do with impending FirstGroup takeover? Hmmm...

Of course.

 

[XCTurbostar]

390137

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I saw this on 390137 a few days ago

 

[Doomotron]

Does anybody have any photos?

 

[Bertie the bus]

Yes, but it's just a Pendolino without any branding. Here's a photo anyway - https://flic.kr/p/2hetL4J

 

[HSTEd]

Yes, but it's just a Pendolino without any branding. Here's a photo anyway - https://flic.kr/p/2hetL4J

IMO they look better like that......

 

[Bertie the bus]

I agree. Flowing silk was a pretty shabby livery. Half finished flowing silk, as per the Pendolinos, was just naff.

 

[deltic08]

IMO they look better like that......

I think so too.

 

[800002]

It's a shame it won't stay like that.
Looks a lot better, although it will show the dirt more

 

[Terry Tait]

I think that would look good in metallic black with gold doors.

 

[FFFC 57]

There was a blue colour a few years back, I seem to remember.

 

[The_Train]

I normally like unbranded trains, but I have to say I prefer the Pendo with some colour to it....in fact lots of colour would be perfect

 

[507 001]

It looks horrific IMO.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It looks horrific IMO.

I'm not sure an unliveried unit looks anything in particular. It's just white. At least it has the window band.

 

[swt_passenger]

Do they still have any interior glass with “Virgin” logos etched onto it?

 

[Sprinter156]

I don't really like it tbh

 

[StaffsWCML]

First Group have not even decided what they are going to call this line yet. Think they are too busy sniffing around at what 'cost synergies' they can make.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do they still have any interior glass with “Virgin” logos etched onto it?

I don't recall there being any such glass. The windows on the exterior doors have it, but it's not actually frosted, it's a sticker, I believe.

People accuse Virgin of overbranding, but the word Virgin doesn't actually appear in that many places on a Pendolino or Voyager! It's FirstGroup that likes sticking (f) all over everything.

 

[Sprinter156]

It's FirstGroup that likes sticking (f) all over everything.

Formerly, you don't really see it on their new train liveries. Arriva likes putting "by arriva" everywhere though.

 

[Mogz]

Putting money on LMS in maroon with a contemporary twist.

First group won’t be putting their logo all over it.

GWR are still Firstgroup and have no
First logos, but do mention, in small letters “A Firstgroup Company” on their livery.

 

[Bertie the bus]

People accuse Virgin of overbranding, but the word Virgin doesn't actually appear in that many places on a Pendolino or Voyager! It's FirstGroup that likes sticking (f) all over everything.

Oh yes, Virgin branding is very subdued. Just like on the Pendolinos they couldn't be bothered devising a livery for but still managed to slap a huge Virgin logo on.

 

[KC1]

It's FirstGroup that likes sticking (f) all over everything.

Incorrect. There is no huge ‘First’ branding on either GWR or SWR.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Incorrect. There is no huge ‘First’ branding on either GWR or SWR.

But there’s like twenty SWR logos on the outside of the refurbished 444... Virgin Trains aren’t hugely in your face when it comes to the trains - and this Pendolino just looks naked. They could have at least left a triangle on the front, doesn’t have to be Virgin, you can get blank triangles

 

[Bletchleyite]

Incorrect. There is no huge ‘First’ branding on either GWR or SWR.

Sorry - liked - it doesn't any more, probably because it's realised it is discredited.

 

[sprinterguy]

Incorrect. There is no huge ‘First’ branding on either GWR or SWR.

Nor on Transpennine Express, for that matter. First group have moved away from a homogenous corporate image for their separate TOCs in the past few years.

Formerly, you don't really see it on their new train liveries. Arriva likes putting "by arriva" everywhere though.

That's a recent development. These things are frequently cyclical. Arriva began to distance itself from a single corporate identity at the time of the Crosscountry franchise in 2007, and has only recently recommenced advertising group ownership across it's separate businesses, at around the same time that First group, well known for splashing the First "F" across everything since around the turn of the millennium, have begun developing separate identities for it's different TOCs where group ownership is only minimally stated.

Assuming the same players remain in the privatised rail market, you can probably expect things to go full circle again within the next 10 - 15 years.

 

[simple simon]

Does anybody have any photos?

I filmed it last week (video) - I was above the tunnel mouths at Kensal Green station, looking down. I'll try to get it on YouTube this weekend.