(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote I think first of all, I'm aware of the Renowns weren't repainted

You are therefore aware that the decision to brand these Renowns as "Centurion" was in order to save money.

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote but it's just I think they might as well of branded the two vehicles and a full centurion fleet to match the PVR, obviously northern vehicles will appear from time to time I'm not daft but this means that many vehicles arent branded each day.

As there were discussions in regards to whether the Renowns should have been repainted into the corporate livery or just branded in order to save money, it clearly demonstrates that the 17 as a service has potential, but isn't great. Why, therefore, would Go North East repaint two double deckers into the same yellow livery as the Renowns retained from their days when used on the "Blaydon Racers" 49 service, if they were wanting to save money back then? As far as I know, we should see the start of the withdrawal of Go North East's Lolynes from next year after the Olympians have been withdrawn. The Renowns used on "Centurion" service 17 have the potential to last longer. At present, I believe (though it is to be confirmed) that there are plans to withdraw 4837-55 next year at least. As the "Centurion" branded Renowns are Euro 4, they will last longer than the Euro 2 examples within the fleet.

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote And if as you say 5166 is a spare it should be branded or into Northern.

Fair enough.

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote But what is the solution GNE are never going to use extra vehicles despite the fact they argueably should. My point is that customers aren't getting brand identity on the centurion service, and some other services. The 61 is another example.. The 'Drifter' 61 since Novemeber 2012 changes the drifter vehicles started interworking with the 38's meaning it was always having at least two runs an hour 'Northern' Branded. Even when the interworking stopped drifter cadets continued to see use on the 38. And then since June 2013 changes the service is never drifter branded and uses the simplicity Versa's.

Branding is a mess at GNE.

From my previous post:
'The former is being worked on at present and hopefully in a few months time, "odd workings" should be far less frequent, and if a breakdown occurs, whatever vehicle is closest can attend for one run before a proper replacement can be organised (a "Northern" branded vehicle).'

The solution will very much be a "behind the scenes" solution which, in due course, may be discussed on the public domain by one of our Go North East representatives. It goes without saying that "odd allocations" will never completely stop, but depots should become more efficient in the sense that the nearest vehicle to the breakdown will be taken to the breakdown for the driver to carry on his usual duty, and after one run, a "Northern" replacement should have arrived.

The solution would never to be increase the amount of branded spare vehicles as this would increase Go North East's overheads massively. Quite a few of the more profitable services do indeed have a spare branded vehicle (or more - there are three spares for the "Cobalt Clipper" services, 5250 and 5273 being the spare Omnicities brought in to deal with the ongoing reliability of the already branded Omnicities as well as 4911, the branded Renown).

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote My point is that customers aren't getting brand identity on the centurion service, and some other services.

According to the allocations list, it does. On a day-to-day basis, there should only ever be two Northern branded vehicles (two of PM's Lolynes) being used on the service. Would you prefer it if two drivers were kept in the depot all day and only worked the scholar services that the 17/307 currently interwork with? Having them run off the 17/307 means that running costs will be cheaper for Go North East, and the saving can be passed onto the customer.

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote The 61 is another example.. The 'Drifter' 61 since Novemeber 2012 changes the drifter vehicles started interworking with the 38's meaning it was always having at least two runs an hour 'Northern' Branded. Even when the interworking stopped drifter cadets continued to see use on the 38. And then since June 2013 changes the service is never drifter branded and uses the simplicity Versa's.

Again, corporate liveried vehicles appearing on branded services should not be an issue... I did feel that the "Drifter" branded Cadets appearing on the 38 was an issue, and I did complain to Go North East several times in November when these changes were put in place.
Since June, the 61 has received a temporary allocation until the Streetlites arrive at Deptford. The 36 (previously "SimpliCity"), in my opinion, did not deserve the Versas. It is perhaps for that reason why the 36 and 61 received an allocation swap.
These Versas will move over to the 39 when the Streetlites arrive at Deptford for service 60, and I believe it has also been confirmed that the 61 will be removed from the "Drifter" brand.
Would you have preferred Go North East to repaint the "SimpliCity" Versas green for 5 months and then have them repainted again so brand identity remained intact for the 61? Would this not have been a little 'pointless'?

(01 Oct 2013, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote Branding is a mess at GNE.

There is room for improvement, but it certainly is not 'a mess'. It is an issue, and as far as I know, there have been discussions between management regarding branding. It is for that reason why there are plans in place.