(24 Jul 2022, 10:47 pm)Ambassador wrote But she’s using that bus regardless…she’s differentiating a product, it doesn’t make it any easier. She’d just say ok, 56, from Springwell Club? Has Newcastle on the front? Great. Did the 28 see an explosion of passengers when it became Waggonway? Was the historically busy 723, 724, 221 and 735 suddenly overwhelmed when it become the 21 24/7 or the Angel? Nope. It’s the 21 to the vast majority of folks and it gets you from the cannon to townWhat I'm saying is, if the 56 didn't have a strong and constant brand (orange with flowers), would she even know the 56 exists? Probably not, especially given the fact it doesn't go anywhere near to where we live.
These routes existed way before branding was born and will go on beyond it. Investment in lower fares, simplified timetables, easy ticketing (Jesus Christ the speed of gne contactless ) is what’s needed. Not paint
What's most likely happened is she's seen one of the branded B9s on it a few times while out in either Newcastle or Sunderland or both, and made a connection ("big orange bus with flowers = 56"). Would she have made that connection if the 56 wasn't branded? I doubt it.