(03 May 2013, 9:06 am)eezypeazy wrote

(03 May 2013, 8:40 am)Venturego wrote Maybe this will be taken out of the Bus Operators' hands when Nexus introduce Quality service contracts (and if Lord Adonis' report is taken on board. a larger PTE covering Nexus' area plus Northumberland & County Durham (LA7) - We would then have a region wide brand (as London transport) with only small legal titles indicating operating company.

A region-wide brand would be a case of "chucking the baby out with the bathwater" - it would be a disaster, removing all the benefits that GNE, SNE and now Arriva have proved come from good marketing.

And don't forget that Nexus' believes it works, too - why else are Quaylink and Sunderland Connect in distinctive liveries?

I agree some brands, which are relative work very well (Quaylink) but GNE have too many brands that mean very little, have no link with corporate identity, and in many cases are operated on incorrect routes - just look at some previous posts re. Lambton Worm on Lime, Quaylink running in Jarrow etc.... Good Marketing works well, Bad management of marketing is a disaster. Lothian Buses keep a smart corporate identity, with effective route sub-branding which works very well. This has recently been extended by slight variation of colour scheme for long distance/outside of Greater Edinburgh area. Quality image is maintained in a corporate brand identity which portrays the company's brand values well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelst138/8640133216/

Mix of Old (scattered diamonds) and New below:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&gs_rn=12&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=4&gs_id=2q&xhr=t&q=lothian+buses&biw=1440&bih=712&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1Y-DUYr3MMnL0AXdpICYDg#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=lothian+buses+branding&oq=lothian+buses+branding&gs_l=img.12...73357.77029.0.79764.9.9.0.0.0.0.473.1243.6j2j4-1.9.0...0.0...1c.1.12.img.7ap_tYxsTls&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.d2k&fp=d5101b66a71c9517&biw=1440&bih=712

And here the interpretation of their corporate branding for subsidiary East Lothian (after taking over First bus operation in the area:
http://thebuspeople.co.uk/?p=950

Timetables are also given in an excellent format:
http://lothianbuses.com/timetables-tickets-maps