(20 Oct 2013, 5:19 pm)aureolin wrote I can see it from both sides. I personally think it's great what GNE and Arriva do for example, with promoting and marketing a new service, whether that be brand specific or greener transport. I can also see it from (what I'd perceive to be) Stagecoach's point of view. They're only replacing operational assets that have ended their usable life after all. Would you see Sainsburys shout and scream from the roof tops if they'd replaced all their tills once they reached EOL?

What'd be more interesting is to see the loading figures before and after some of these relaunches? For example, the GNE X1, 21, M1/4, and Arriva's 308, 2, 11 and 12. If I was investing in marketing campaigns, I'd want to see a steady increase on loadings post re-launch.

If GNE hadn't promoted the X84/X85, I highly doubt it would have such high passenger numbers! - I think it's great many people are using these two services, there is even some posters on Percy Main based Lolynes, with ''Visit Hexham'' posters on!

I highly doubt many people would have known about the launch of the E200's in Sunderland. If people had, there's a chance they might have trailed them. However, they aren't anything exciting, to me, unlike Go North East's launches. They're just a bog-standard vehicle to the public! I hope these new Gas Buses have a proper launch! They are much more exciting than E200's! More people would want to ride the Gas Buses than the E200's, I guess!