(11 Jul 2013, 7:01 pm)BJ10VUS wrote(11 Jul 2013, 6:59 pm)Michael wrote Looks nice, wasnt their one years ago in that colour?
Yeah, it was a demonstrator on the 21.
Photo by Peter Barclay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27204054@N0.../lightbox/
No! Clearly the '07 Demonstrator is Metallic and a "Semi-shade" darker than the re-brand/colour which is more like that used on 50! -
Personally I believe brands have had their day apart from a handful of Key "Gold Standard Routes" - Maybe a stronger corporate "quality" identity as per Lothian buseshttp:
www.flickr.com/photos/barberbus/8639839963/
with discreet route banding and colour Variation on, for example
Nexus will be pushing ahead for a RE-Regulation of public transport (as with Greater Manchester & Yorkshire's Metro Transport PTE, and GNE/Stagecoach & Arriva are only trying different methods & investing in new buses, while this threat hangs over them - otherwise I doubt the level of investment in new buses would be taking place.
Let's move this forum away from schoolboy bus spotters and tackle the real issues facing the industry.
Why not have a maximum age & quality of buses policy as dictated by the PTE (Nexus) and introduction of a multi-user travelcard as per Oyster valid across all modes of tansport (Buses,Metro, Northern Trains etc...) with guaranteed service levels throughout the day dictated by terms of contract.
Stagecoach have threatened removing their fleet from the region if this was imposed! - Well - Let Them! - I'm sure First Bus, GNE, Arriva and even Stagecoach would tender under the terms of regulated contracts.
I would go further & suggest such a scheme should extend to all "LA7" authorities i.e. NEXUS + Co. Durham & Northumberland County Council Transport areas ( as per Lord Adonis' report on the future of the region's transport) - Maybe it's time to start with a clean sheet and create a strong quality identity for the region's fleets, whether that be Nexus, LA7 or an entirely new name?
http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/34/623...-fleet.jpg