(28 Sep 2015, 8:34 pm)S813 FVK wrote As you've mentioned NSAs:
Over the past few momths, there have been times where we have stopped behind the 78 and I have noticed that the display reads "Welcome aboard the Coast & Country service 78 to Consett" or something along those lines (Then goes on to say that there is free wifi available). I was just thinking to myself, would 'this' not make more sense than 'the'? Just my opinion - don't know how hard it will be to change (not like you need to change anything - 'the' still works, i just think that 'this' would have been better).
As ever, it's something which is going to be subject to opinion, and it's probably one of the many things we debated at the time when typing out the content for those displays...
When speaking, I would usually precede one of Go North East's brand names with the word "the". For example, "I'm going to catch the Wear Tees Xpress to Peterlee later today". Therefore; I think "Welcome aboard the Red Kite 45 service to Newcastle" sounds perfectly fine, and if anything, the word "this" preceding the brand name instead would make it sound more formal (unnecessarily?)
I think Arriva went down the route of "this" opposed to "the" on their announcements, but perhaps this is more relevant as you wouldn't say "I'm going to catch the MAX to Darlington later today" (given that it's a widely used brand name), and, with regards to an added formality, fits in nicely with their "Sapphire" brand image.
I think we'll stick with "the".
