(30 Apr 2013, 2:08 pm)gtomlinson wrote I don't mind branding as such if it's done well but it feels like its becoming branding for brandings sake and there's almost perceived a route heirachy where branded takes precedent over non-branded. You get the feeling if the 21 breaks down or has problems its an issue...if the X25 does...well nevermind eh?
I understand its easier for GNE to interact over social media with #greenangels etc but I'd keep branding to your key flagship routes
21
X9/10
10
X66
X1
58
56
27
Nothing else because thats when you star stretching. Magic Roundabout was just stupid tbh and as for Pronto...jesus.
I'd also drop 3 letter route numbers and change everything to dual numbers. 309 becomes 90 or 39 for example and then go for route branding. Route 39 Is a far more effective brand than 'Cobalt Cowboy' or something like that.
Outside of long distance routes like the X10 or 21 you don't need fancy headrests, on board announcements, wi-fi, power sockets. What the vast majority what is a clean bus (pref easy access) that goes from A to B at the best price with the best reliability possible. They don't care if its pink, yellow, fuschia or has onboard radar and photon torpedoes, they just want a bus.
And to edit add....The Angel and Pronto now have the new corporate font style timetables, obviously with added green-ness and angels with the paper bus look. Very smart
some brands in my opinion should have stayed i would brand X3/9/26 now there in Northern brand i believe 27X will fall into the crusader brand eventually but will be run by Saltmeadows and use 2 optare versa repainted silver saying that the 17/17A will soon be branded as The Centurion very soon i would love to see 9 as a branded route again this time as something eye catching