(14 Oct 2021, 10:07 pm)Dan wrote Given the time taken for the branding to be applied after the 5 September changes when these buses started being allocated to service 39, I don’t think it was a rushed job.

The buses are grey in colour and have been named Graphite to match the colour (like all the other services in Sunderland) - haven’t Apple just released their new iPhone 13 with the same colour description?

I am also confused as to why this change of vehicle type on service 39 renders it a ‘second class’ service now? The Solos are of an identical specification to the Streetlites previously used, and arguably provide a better customer experience (fewer rattles etc).

Concerns were raised on this forum regarding passenger loadings on the 39, but this does not seem to have actually been an issue that has materialised?

Elsewhere Streetlites have been replaced by Versas and Citaros of a near identical customer specification (Wi-Fi, USB, next stop announcements). Aside from the age of the vehicles, there isn’t really much of a downgrade on any of these services. I recently travelled on the 2 service and an elderly customer referred to the seats being far more comfortable on the recently refurbished Versa. Clearly this is just the perception of them being a different colour and in different material (moquette instead of leather) as they are the same type of Esteban seat.


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In my opinion: 
The X-Lines obviously looked better however this can have a chance of being good brand, just no one thinks that as it’s obviously one of those paint, logo slapped on and place names slapped on. 

This is just a local bus replacing the Black Cat this can’t be repainted like a Premium service like Voltra that no one will use a lot of times. I like the look of Graphite and obviously we still have Blonde and Silver Solo SR’s I don’t think Blonde will good in my opinion as it just looks like a BTEC venture (no offence). 

People need to give the Graphite a chance, that’s all I’m gonna say. 

I probs started to not make sense but overall SunderlandDistrict is here to allow local services around Sunderland to look better.

 They can’t go into insane detail as A.) Costs Money B.) Can’t get a lot of customers. 

Just need to appreciate GNE giving us new brands to enjoy and allow people to take photos of the new liveries