(28 Jan 2017, 10:50 pm)Ambassador wrote To be fair, that article is from 2006, It's a very different world and a different market. You can't compare buses to a brand as such. In most cases passengers are using it through necessity over choice.
Stagecoach have a very laissez faire approach to branding and do rather well because their business plan works, strong competitive pricing, good rolling investment and strong customer service.
Take Chester le street into Newcastle
The train. Quick, reliable and into the centre £868 a year.
The 21 or X21. Slower, not reliable and potentially a B7 = £996
Nb this is based on commuting and on assumption commuter uses transport only to work (which I and most folk I work with who use buses do)
£907.40 if u buy angel week tickets.
Also the original reason for branding was I think Chris moyes said it's easier to spot the colour of the bus rather than the number. Imagine if eldon square was packed with blue and red!