Virgin Trains (VTWC) new livery being introduced

[Andy25]

Trouble is the franchise seems to have been more Stagecoach than Virgin these last few years! Do i need say more...

Sorry, for another thread really.

As someone close to this franchise I can say Stagecoach have very little involvement. All day to day running and engineering is done through Virgin staff.

 

[driver_m]

As someone close to this franchise I can say Stagecoach have very little involvement. All day to day running and engineering is done through Virgin staff.

And as someone who knows Andy and works for the same company. I know exactly what's he means. Let's just say their influence is stronger than at any point in its history.

 

[Andy25]

And as someone who knows Andy and works for the same company. I know exactly what's he means. Let's just say their influence is stronger than at any point in its history.

Not sure what you mean here?

 

[E_Reeves]

Here's the path for the new liveried voyager back from Ilford:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55261/2018/09/30/advanced

Possibly making the 2203 Euston - Barton Under Needwood as it shares a similar headcode?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C70958/2018/09/30/advanced

 

[Christmas]

It is still too dufficult to identify the First Class coaches. A very narrow '1' is not sufficient. Truly the most anonymous looking trains on the entire network. A pathetic attempt at a livery. White with stickers is the speciality of the cowboy coach operators, not for a flagship intercity train operator.

 

[ash39]

It is still too dufficult to identify the First Class coaches. A very narrow '1' is not sufficient. Truly the most anonymous looking trains on the entire network. A pathetic attempt at a livery. White with stickers is the speciality of the cowboy coach operators, not for a flagship intercity train operator.

I don't disagree with your overall point, but the reasons for the plain white have been covered throughout the thread. In short, the stock had to be repainted as part of its mid life overhaul, and the colour scheme had to be as neutral as possible as the franchise is almost up.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't disagree with your overall point, but the reasons for the plain white have been covered throughout the thread. In short, the stock had to be repainted as part of its mid life overhaul, and the colour scheme had to be as neutral as possible as the franchise is almost up.

That doesn't mean a standard yellow stripe could not have been added.

 

[XCTurbostar]

That doesn't mean a standard yellow stripe could not have been added.

Completely agree with Blechleyite’s point here. There seems to have been a shift in recent years in the way TOCs display first class. VTEC and GWR are examples of where first class is shown differently, but, even here the ‘classic andrecognisable’ yellow line is missing.

At the end of the day, a yellow line is just that, a yellow line. A sticker..

 

[Rail Blues]

Completely agree with Blechleyite’s point here. There seems to have been a shift in recent years in the way TOCs display first class. VTEC and GWR are examples of where first class is shown differently, but, even here the ‘classic andrecognisable’ yellow line is missing.

At the end of the day, a yellow line is just that, a yellow line. A sticker..

Classic and recognisable to enthusiasts yes, but I wonder how many passengers, especially irregular travellers? I'd warrant not.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Classic and recognisable to enthusiasts yes, but I wonder how many passengers, especially irregular travellers? I'd warrant not.

Then promote it across the network.

LNR have the best one I've seen - it incorporates the wording "First Class" into the stripe in a "bubble" which both uses the standard and emphasizes what it means.

 

[Rail Blues]

Then promote it across the network.

LNR have the best one I've seen - it incorporates the wording "First Class" into the stripe in a "bubble" which both uses the standard and emphasizes what it means.

I really don't see the point of doing that when first or the number 1 are readily understood by all.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Personally I'd rather a bluish-purple stripe on First Class coaches if you ever were going to put anything on them. I think it's more pleasing to the eye than a yellow line running along the top, which I doubt will be any better than a "1" on the side of the window bands, simply because nobody is really going to be paying attention to the top of the train coaches. The fact most stations and boards now say where First Class can be found kind of makes it redundant in some areas. But then granted that's not the case at every station, so I'd rather opt for a line on the side beneath the window bands if anything. It just looks better if you ask me.

 

[Christmas]

I really don't see the point of doing that when first or the number 1 are readily understood by all.

The point is that these number 1s are often very difficult to spot unless you are next to them. Try picking out first class on a 9 car HST as it pulls into a crowded platform, or for that matter a 4 car EMU only to find yourself at the wrong end. As for the class 390, pathetic. The stock may have to be white but that does not mean other additions cannot be made.
The yellow stripe offers an elevated, highly recognisable vusual aid as to where you need to be.

 

[joshy.fre_2003]

Here's the path for the new liveried voyager back from Ilford:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55261/2018/09/30/advanced

Possibly making the 2203 Euston - Barton Under Needwood as it shares a similar headcode?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C70958/2018/09/30/advanced

Your top path seems to have disappeared

 

[E_Reeves]

Your top path seems to have disappeared

Indeed it has, but the one from Euston still remains? Maybe it will be put back in at a later date if they are having issues of when they can actually release it from Ilford.

 

[sufian123]

A friend has shared. 221101.

 

[E_Reeves]

A friend has shared. 221101.

What on Earth is that? Looks like a 345...

To be fair, it does look a lot more modern with that white/black livery. Is there any red to be added like the pendos?

 

[youngac]

Well that certainly looks different...

 

[pt_mad]

A friend has shared. 221101.

I only wish they'd made the black on the cab extend a little wider each side. Only to make the cab appear wider from the front, like it seems to on the 222 livery.

Perhaps red VT vinyls extending out from the black cab may achieve this effect.

Very modern though so hat's off for that.

 

[sufian123]

What on Earth is that? Looks like a 345...

To be fair, it does look a lot more modern with that white/black livery. Is there any red to be added like the pendos?

Not sure. He says “The black front will have a yellow decall over it when it renters service. They're upgrading the headlights so that it can have a black front in 2019”.

 

[pt_mad]

Not sure. He says “The black front will have a yellow decall over it when it renters service. They're upgrading the headlights so that it can have a black front in 2019”.

So potentially we won't see the black front in service this year then? Sounds like it will look more like the Pendolino front when it's vinyled up.

 

[xc170]

Are they just doing the leading car given it's to be released on the 30th and you can see a standard VT liveried car behind it in the photo?

 

[USRailFan]

Completely agree with Blechleyite’s point here. There seems to have been a shift in recent years in the way TOCs display first class. VTEC and GWR are examples of where first class is shown differently, but, even here the ‘classic andrecognisable’ yellow line is missing.

At the end of the day, a yellow line is just that, a yellow line. A sticker..

This isn't happening only in the UK. Same thing in Scandinavia, Norwegian and Swedish trains haven't displayed the yellow stripe for years. There's also the tendency to use other definitions than 1st class, it's mostly Comfort vs Regular or Business vs Standard or stuff like that.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I’m just going to leave this here..



At least it’s still got a bit of a yellow front on the coupler haha

 

[Pete_uk]

Woah, not sure about the black front.

 

[EE Andy b1]

I’m just going to leave this here..

View attachment 53050

At least it’s still got a bit of a yellow front on the coupler haha

Yep thats so we know which end is first class!

I like it. Can't wait to see the finished interim product!

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure. He says “The black front will have a yellow decall over it when it renters service. They're upgrading the headlights so that it can have a black front in 2019”.

You'd have thought they could have fitted the new headlights during the repaint.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What on Earth is that? Looks like a 345...

To be fair, it does look a lot more modern with that white/black livery. Is there any red to be added like the pendos?

Yes they will get the same front red swooshes

 

[507 001]

Ok. So I get that the operators don’t need, and clearly don’t want yellow fronts any more.

But why black?!

 

[whhistle]

I’m just going to leave this here..

It's the same as posted above :P

I wonder if Cross Country will look at something like this for a refresh of their trains at some point.

Ok. So I get that the operators don’t need, and clearly don’t want yellow fronts any more.
But why black?!

Dark colours are luxury.
Think about premium supermarket foods - all I can think of have dark purple or black labels.
Not saying this is the reason... maybe it's a case of they can have it any colour, so long as it's black.