(15 Mar 2013, 12:13 pm)Kuyoyo wrote(14 Mar 2013, 8:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote They obviously aren't too convinced by it, even though they want to make it a success.
How many new routes have little publicity, buses from another route or depot and very little marketing - and have worked?
Compare that to new routes, with new branding and new/refurbished vehicles and endless marketing and think how successful they have been?
Actually, they were pushing it in Middlesbrough yesterday at the BuS Users event. Plus, given the X9/X10 B9s had a low-key launch on Teesside with 6043 being posed on Stockton High Street on Market Day and outside BHS the following day, I would expect a similar thing for the X7 in the next week.
(15 Mar 2013, 11:57 am)Daniel wrote Some vehicles have acquired a large "100 years" translucent sticker on the middle window on the left hand (door) side.
This is likely to be a gradual process no doubt, and will expand to further vehicles in time.
I spotted it on a "Drifter" branded Versa this morning. Not sure of any other vehicles that have it yet, but I'm sure there will be some - just gone unnoticed because it's not something that's particularly eye grabbing!
The 'Crusader' Citaros had it yesterday.
That's my point. It was a bus users event. Not a GNE event, with the press there taking photos and the endless publicity, dedicated tweets, mentions on Facebook or on their website - that the X9/10 and Quaylink had. Not even anything like the X35 had with an African band at Park Lane. The 21 had green angels promoting a new bus and I lost count the amount of times I saw the 10 mentioned recently.
Where was the flash mob? The one that appeared when the key was launched?
If GNE are that sure about it, a lot more time, energy and effort would have been made.
How many other express services have been launched over the last few years, to be withdrawn after the standard 'experimental service' line was mentioned on the withdrawal notice? No mention of experimental when any of theSunderland/Newcastle or Newcastle/Murton, Heworth/Peterlee or North Tyneside and Northumberland/Metrocentre expresses we're introduced. Just a low key launch, with spare buses being used...
Going back to when the B9s were launched, there was nothing like the publicity or marketing there is now.