(26 Jan 2017, 4:14 pm)S813 FVK wrote That is a question that has been asked several times before and is also one that has not been answered - probably going to be a case of 'let the marketing team reveal what is happening'.

I do think that it is strange that new buses are being deployed on a service that will be debranded in line with the new vehicles as opposed to being branded. It maybe isn't one of the strongest brands but I certainly wouldn't withdraw it given the brands background (although not too relevant to the areas served!)

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5452 has entered service at Riverside on the 49/49A: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/31724173953/in/photostream/

(27 Jan 2017, 9:10 am)RBZ 5459 wrote They are to get sub-branding for the 49s of some description.

(27 Jan 2017, 10:00 am)Michael wrote Might of well just branded it fully lol

#5455

Prior to entering service; this vehicle has received Go North East's corporate livery with "The 49s" branding.

(27 Jan 2017, 10:19 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Interesting name. Does exactly hat it says on the tin I suppose....

(27 Jan 2017, 10:23 am)Michael wrote Ye, wonder if they've put a logo of the 49's on the side, like they did when they branded Deptfords "X36/X37" and "Nine" at Percy Main.

(27 Jan 2017, 10:51 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Yeah, but they were pretty naff brands which didn't have much customer appeal, branded for the sake of branding them... so hopefully "The 49s" is a little more stylish and doesn't look slapped on last minute.

(27 Jan 2017, 10:56 am)Michael wrote Ye they were so hopefully "The 49s" is designed better.

No doubt a photo will appear soon haha

(27 Jan 2017, 11:31 am)westy3738 wrote 5455 has been delivered to Riverside depot this morning and has branding for service 49 group.

It is rather minimalist and is a big departure from the previous Blaydon Racer brand!

(27 Jan 2017, 11:58 am)Dan wrote 5455: https://flic.kr/p/R1Un5j

(27 Jan 2017, 11:58 am)Dan wrote 5455: https://flic.kr/p/R1Un5j

(27 Jan 2017, 12:11 pm)Jimmi wrote Wouldn't surprise me if there is more brandings in this style to come, service 18 possibly being one of them?

Doesn't look too bad I feel.

(27 Jan 2017, 1:23 pm)GX03 wrote 5448 & 5450 are now at Stanley depot.

(27 Jan 2017, 2:39 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote This 49 livery is unoriginal and boring. Another step in the wrong direction .... and is proper branding on the way out? Why not keep Blaydon Racers? Or couldn't they think of a different name or colour, as happened with IndiGo.

(27 Jan 2017, 2:56 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Regardless of how uninspiring it is, you've got to think why bother slapping a 49 vinyl on it. If they wanted to bin off a strong service route identity they should have left them unbranded.

(27 Jan 2017, 3:02 pm)Michael wrote Just have to get used to it...... 

(27 Jan 2017, 3:07 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote If it is to be rolled out across other services, I'd suspect it'll just be for the moderately performing routes, and not mainstream core money-makers.

(27 Jan 2017, 2:39 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote This 49 livery is unoriginal and boring. Another step in the wrong direction .... and is proper branding on the way out? Why not keep Blaydon Racers? Or couldn't they think of a different name or colour, as happened with IndiGo.

(27 Jan 2017, 4:04 pm)S813 FVK wrote Because it has very little relation to the 49/49A maybe? Neither service goes along Scotswood Road and only 1 service goes via Blaydon. I'd have expected a critical person like you to have presented that argument pretty quickly!

(27 Jan 2017, 11:58 am)Dan wrote 5455:

Go North East: 5455 / NK66EWD by Daniel Graham, on Flickr