17 Jan 2016, 12:00 pm
#423
(16 Jan 2016, 9:00 pm)tyresmoke I'll agree with you on that one. When I go to other areas (ie not standing in Stockton or Middlesbrough all day) like my recent visit to Kent, personally I find that the branded routes are easier to look at and understand. They stand out (eg the Sapphire and Fastrack routes around Dartford and Chatham) and for me are easier to use, although some of this could be down to the upgraded publicity that goes along with these commercial brands maybe? There has to be more effort put into pushing your commercial brands after spending more than the usual amount on the rebrand I guess, so maybe that makes them easier to understand as a result?
Brands don't have to have a meaning behind them all of the time though. Look at Oyster... What's that got to do with a travel smartcard in London?
For a long time, all the operators did was give a bus a lick of paint and add some decals.
Inside, the bus was no different.
I am glad to see some of the 'extras', such as seating that is different to the standard,make a return - an idea pushed way back when, with ExpressLink, Superliner etc.
However those vehicles often had uprated engines - making them standout on the longer, more punishing routes.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
