(02 Aug 2022, 12:39 am)col87 wrote The problem Go north east have done they gone to over the top. East Durham worked and it was more than a brand it was like a little company of its own within Go North East it was the local bus service for east Durham.

(02 Aug 2022, 9:45 am)Storx wrote See personally I don't see the point in brands like that. Brands need to be unique to specific routes so you can distinguish it from others otherwise what's the point. It might aswell be just GNE and save the bother with difficulties with allocations.

You wouldn't go into a supermarket and see all the Kelloggs products all branded as let's say Super Cereal with the only difference being a small piece of text saying Chocolate Rings or Supergrain. They're all unique like CocoPops or Rice Krispies etc. It's the same with the brands imo.

There's a serious problem in Consett / Stanley now with the X Lines where everything is the same brand so it's pointless or Venture so the branding has no impact. Get shot of it imo and there's nothing different about X Lines X5/X15 buses and say the Diamond to further complicate things.

(02 Aug 2022, 9:46 am)Unber43 wrote It could be Durham Diamond 

Durham Diamond Express

(02 Aug 2022, 10:15 am)JP6004 wrote Wasn't the reason the Diamond was originally orange on the renowns so they could be seen in the snow? Weren't they also one of the few buses to have fleet number on the roof too, so it was easily spotted from the air?

(02 Aug 2022, 10:31 am)F114TML wrote Why?

(02 Aug 2022, 1:40 pm)Retro Nero wrote The Prince Bishop have had there cant rails changed to show  ,. SUNDERLAND / HOUGHTON / DURHAM...... Unfortunately I haven't got a picture

(04 Aug 2022, 12:16 pm)Retro Nero wrote Apparently the Violet Mercs are having there cant rails rebranded in the next few days, according to staff at Deptford this morning

(01 Aug 2022, 1:30 pm)F114TML wrote I'm on holiday in the lakes right now. Have to say, I'm quite impressed by Stagecoach's Lakes Connection branding - because they're actually putting a bit of effort into it.

Been to Bowness and saw this (sold already)

and in one of the shops, they had a stack of timetables (and when I say a stack, I mean a big crate about 4 feet high). The buses have a nice livery (and it is actually a livery, not just beachball but in a different colour, even though it is based on beachball. I notice they've updated the logo on it so i assume they're continuing with it - at least for now). Also, looked through the timetable leaflet I picked up - don't see any cheesy slogans (although it lists tickets, but directs you to a QR code for the prices - hmm), and the "Lakes Connection" name makes sense.

They say first impressions count - the bus service through the village I was expecting to be a Solo; cue me quite surprised when a branded E400 came through, making me look the route up myself. Want to do it myself (if I get the chance to is another question). I've not had that feeling from GNE (although is that because I'm from the area and know the network anyway?).

(10 Aug 2022, 2:38 pm)F114TML wrote Here's a thing I noticed while on the 61 this morning.

I was on a Violet Citaro, closely followed by a Blonde solo on the 60 (I later saw it on the X6). I noticed passengers would stick their hand out for the significantly busier 60, rather than the 61 which runs exactly the same route. There can't be that many people on a morning returning to Sunderland on a return ticket, surely (that's even assuming a return on that section is only valid on the 60)? Did they go for the 60 because the 60 is branded, despite it being an off-brand bus? Are they passing the Citaro because they don't like them for one reason or another?

It seemed very odd.

(10 Aug 2022, 2:48 pm)Unber43 wrote I suppose it happens a lot, it happens with the 28 they just let them go and wait for a 21. 

And wouldn't you pick the 60 over the 61 it is more often 5ph over 2ph. THe 61 should not be doing the same route from Seaton to Sunderland, the 60 should move upto every 10 mins and the 61 should be extended via Avenue and Station Road then Moorside, Farringdon, A690 Sunderland. 

There has been no need for the 61 to follow the same route as the 60 for ages.

(10 Aug 2022, 2:51 pm)F114TML wrote And what's in it for the people of Murton who now have an extra 20-30 minutes onto their journey?

(10 Aug 2022, 2:48 pm)Unber43 wrote And wouldn't you pick the 60 over the 61 it is more often 5ph over 2ph.

(10 Aug 2022, 2:38 pm)F114TML wrote Here's a thing I noticed while on the 61 this morning.

I was on a Violet Citaro, closely followed by a Blonde solo on the 60 (I later saw it on the X6). I noticed passengers would stick their hand out for the significantly busier 60, rather than the 61 which runs exactly the same route. There can't be that many people on a morning returning to Sunderland on a return ticket, surely (that's even assuming a return on that section is only valid on the 60)? Did they go for the 60 because the 60 is branded, despite it being an off-brand bus? Are they passing the Citaro because they don't like them for one reason or another?

It seemed very odd.

(11 Aug 2022, 9:44 pm)Washingtonian wrote I would ditch the branding of individual services with the exception of XLines. I would keep the existing style of the corporate livery but have different colours for each area. Something like: -

Yellow/Orange for Tyne Valley/Tynedale area - All Services to be branded as Tyne Valley Ranger
Two tone green for County Durham (Chester le Street, Durham and Consett) - All Services to be branded County Durham Diamonds
Two tone blue for both North and South Tyneside (Existing Coaster Livery - which is very smart imo!), All services branded Coaster
Silver and Black for Newcastle and Gateshead - All services branded Toon and Tyne
Two tone red for Wearside (Existing S&D Cherry livery - for all services in Washington, Houghton and Sunderland) - All services branded Wear and There
Lilac/Purple for East Durham - All services branded East Durham Explorers

All Xlines would retain the Gold at the front, with the back the corresponding colour of the area they serve.

(11 Aug 2022, 9:51 pm)Unber43 wrote Tbf thats what they tried with Sunderland & District an overall name with different sub names separating them I think that would work better.

(11 Aug 2022, 9:56 pm)Washingtonian wrote Yeah I like the idea of an overall brand name for each area but I think there are way too many colours going on. They need to simplify it I think.

(11 Aug 2022, 9:58 pm)Unber43 wrote I mean you could have like

Sunderland Based Services have a blue main part, then the rear is a differnt colour e.g 

Sunderland & District Voilet would have a Blue Front Half, with a Purple rear.

(11 Aug 2022, 10:06 pm)Washingtonian wrote Yeah maybe. I thiink there are too many brand names now though and I think if there was one colour per area it wouldn't confuse people so much if the wrong bus allocation turns up on a route.

(11 Aug 2022, 9:44 pm)Washingtonian wrote I would ditch the branding of individual services with the exception of XLines. I would keep the existing style of the corporate livery but have different colours for each area. Something like: -

Yellow/Orange for Tyne Valley/Tynedale area - All Services to be branded as Tyne Valley Ranger
Two tone green for County Durham (Chester le Street, Durham and Consett) - All Services to be branded County Durham Diamonds
Two tone blue for both North and South Tyneside (Existing Coaster Livery - which is very smart imo!), All services branded Coaster
Silver and Black for Newcastle and Gateshead - All services branded Toon and Tyne
Two tone red for Wearside (Existing S&D Cherry livery - for all services in Washington, Houghton and Sunderland) - All services branded Wear and There
Lilac/Purple for East Durham - All services branded East Durham Explorers

All Xlines would retain the Gold at the front, with the back the corresponding colour of the area they serve.

(11 Aug 2022, 10:37 pm)northern156 wrote Why not just have one brand... Go North East... Using the same new colour scheme they undoubtedly spent big bucks on redesigning? Worked before and it'll work again

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(11 Aug 2022, 11:47 pm)Washingtonian wrote Well I would personally much prefer one brand and one livery too but I can't see this happening to be honest. Some of the current two tone liveries are very smart and my suggestion was based on the old set up in the 90s of Wear Buses, Go-Ahead Gateshead etc but in an up to date form. Either way whether its painting them all one livery or several it is going to cost a lot.

(12 Aug 2022, 7:19 pm)Unber43 wrote It doesn't look like branding is going anywhere, according to MG the 57 are getting a brand, there is still no news of what buses they're getting. However where the QuayCity's are going is still unknown I could imagine the 12.