(11 May 2013, 8:03 pm)Brandon wrote I think wrongly-branded buses appearing on the wrong routes is bound to be inevitable during the evenings and on Sundays though. When the Silver Arrows were first introduced, they'd interwork at Washington with short M2's / M3's to/from Heworth (through-fares even used to be available!)

Apart from the Northern SPD's, there's not too many non-branded single deck vehicles. Evening/Sunday services are often quicker in journey times and less frequent, which makes interworking with other services more attractive to achieve maximum operational efficiency. It's not going to be practical to have buses laying over at bus stations for 20 minutes at a time just to keep branded buses on their correct route. Using Northern vehicles on 2A/2C/61 could be a possibility, but there's the constraint of not being able to use deckers on 2A/2C, and I don't think passengers on 2A/2C would be appreciative of Northern SPD's appearing every evening/Sunday in the interim until their withdrawal.

Back to the 61; although the PVR is five which qualifies for branding, this is a route I'd much prefer to see become Northern rather than continue being the poor relation to the 60, which has twice seen new buses purchased - Optare Versas in 2009 and the upcoming Streetlite order.

The last few posts refer to use of branded buses used on other routes etc... I believe GNE are either lazy in strictly managing a branded strategy, or the depot manager have either too much autonomy, Have no regard to the importance of managing effective branded strategy or just simply lazy, and don't understand how branded buses on incorrect routes can be confusing to visitors to our region & the elderly.
I would agree with comments on a much better "Northern" generic branding for the majority of the fleet (expressed earlier as reflecting Lothian Buses style with Sub Branding on a FEW key routes, and only a more dramatic departure from the corporate brand on an even more restricted basis for Major strongly identifiable route e.g. Angel (but with stronger link to Northern Brand ... Maybe split in branding gradually taking place from Lower deck to Upper deck - again refer to Lothian with top deck branding in a seperate route colour. "Childish" images with no heritage should be now considered"past sell by date" (which would see end of a vast majority of brands.... Fab 57 / 56, East Durham, Diamond, Drifter, Lambton Worm, Pulse, Pronto, Highwayman, Toon Link, Whey Aye 50, South Tyne, Crusager, Centurion, Pulse, Simplicity...... etc...etc....
Venture could continue as a heritage brand as OK, but would need a thorough makeover and stronger branding with Yellow,Maroon & Cream as per original, (but similar style to improved "Northern", which could introduce the Cream and Gold style of original brand) and may be expanded as a "short haul" brand feeding into "Northern" routes via the main bus stations throughout the region.
The opportunities are endless.... but the time is right to improve the image and trade on a quality corporate Northern established brand with "values"!
Long Distance routes could be Green & Cream promoting proper express services with a quality theme and limited stops to achieve faster more efficient journeys. - What about ( as an example) a Tees -> Newcastle Airport Express, Direct from Middlesbrough, Stockton then Non Stop to the Airport?!
...But maybe we can move on from getting excited about Drifter on Lime, and Quayside Verso on Crusader etc... This is just incompetence on the part of GNE!

Alternatively... A much improved and larger Nexus/LA7 Transport Authority can takeover GNE, Arriva, Stagecoach and other operators from Berwick to Teeside and with an effective Marketing and Branded strategy operate services in the interest of passengers and the public rather than private profit/shareholders as present! - It would NOT be current "Battleship" grey with Red as current Nexus Livery..... ! A new region Wide Integrated Transport Authority would certainly ensure an effective brand to maximise use via better networking, transferrable ticketing across the whole region.... etc.....


Link to Lothian Buses images: (note corporate image with stand alone services eg Zoo & Airport still are identifiable as part of Lothian corporate brand but ... CREATIVELY Differentiate the Sub Brand as a quality service meeting a consumer demand (service):

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lothian+buses+volvo&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v62OUbiOJYOh0QWA5YCoDA&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1440&bih=710