(24 Jul 2022, 10:55 pm)F114TML wrote What 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.
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.
The ironic thing is now sadly she'll be looking for the orange bus with the flowers on and be waiting for a very long time.
The brands are finished now imo, there was too much pointless rebranding which just defeated the point in them in the first place. You don't go into Tesco and see Kelloggs rebrand their name every 2 weeks.
X Lines was a mistake imo as routes like Red Kite, Red Arrow, Tyne Tees Express and Castles Express had a strong identity. Similar to Citylink, Fab 56, Cobalt Clipper, Ten (Silver) etc which had a strong identity. Now you go to Consett and it's either the Venture, X Lines, X Lines, X Lines, Venture or Venture or Red Kite Ranger ironically again on the wrong route.