12 Sep 2017, 4:30 pm
#249
(11 Sep 2017, 8:18 pm)S813 FVK The X9|X10 brand name, if it can be called that, gets straight to the point to me. I instantly know which services the buses operate on without having to look up at the destination display which, not now in my case but certainly soon, would involve taking my eyes off the road if I was driving.
(12 Sep 2017, 6:45 am)S813 FVK I never said that it was more explanatory, just that it was simple and straight to the point which, when travelling 50/60mph down the A19, is something you need.
(12 Sep 2017, 4:19 pm)S813 FVK Again, I have read both of my previous posts and at no point did I say that the Tyne Tees Xpress was not simple or straight to the point.
After already expressing my view on the rear of the B5TLs, the old Tyne Tees Xpress is certainly better. That aside, however, there is a lot more to a brand than just where it goes, especially if you are competing with the train. The people who are likely use the services will, most likely, live somewhere along the route anyway meaning that they will know where the bus serves. Perhaps not as good as having the route on the rear, but it certainly isn't information that cannot be sourced through independent research.
Both of the comments in your first two posts imply that the TTX brand was not straight to the point.
I'm of the opinion that after putting so much effort into making the inside of the vehicle as premium as possible, in order to compete with other modes of transport as you say, they should have kept the premium livery. Both the original TTX livery and the 2012-17 version were, in my opinion, two of the most premium liveries the North East has seen and I think it would have been far better to build on that.
(12 Sep 2017, 4:19 pm)S813 FVK The customer cannot expect everything to be done for them regardless of what industry is being discussed. If you are considering using the bus, it would make sense to get more information on it first to get a rough idea of ticketing options. The routes would be discovered during that process, wouldn't they?
I also think it is likely that people needed to make an effort to look at what services to look out for if they did choose to use the bus.
Okay, so let's say 'Pete' is driving to work in Middlesbrough from Newcastle, and is following a B5 down the A19. He has no idea where that bus has come from, and unless he's looking up at the rear destination, he may not know where it's going.
Now, had he been making that journey when the B9s were allocated to the route, he'd see at eye level that the bus goes from Newcastle to Middlesbrough, is every 30 minutes, and can also easily see that it has WiFi, sockets etc.
My point is that, he'd probably be more likely to look at the possibility of using the bus if he knew it's destinations, than just the service numbers.
