To those who are posting about the brand being diluted and overused, a question: Does anyone who isn't an enthusiast actually care?

The average passenger will notice that attention has been given to their usual service, as will potential customers that commute or live along the route, resulting in potential passenger growth. People aren't going to be put off using the service because Arriva have painted the bus to catch the eye and added WiFi...

Similarly, someone living in Amble and having the MAX X18/X20 probably won't care about which other routes Arriva have brought under the same brand in a completely different part of the region.

(08 Feb 2017, 6:55 pm)mb134 wrote To those who are posting about the brand being diluted and overused, a question: Does anyone who isn't an enthusiast actually care?

Probably not, but this is a discussion/debate between bus enthusiasts.

The point being made is that Go North East has a strategy with its indiGo brand, as Arriva does with its Sapphire, MAX and Frequenta brands. Over-used, in the eyes of enthusiasts, or not.

7801 has returned to Blyth in MAX base.

(08 Feb 2017, 6:06 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote This then gets me onto the 306/308, While its obvious the best service provision would've been Sapphire or Frequenta, Arriva have chose MAX as it's a " Premium " brand so can compete with GNE's offering on the same corridor, Without the hassle of Sapphire Trained Driver's, NSA's and Uniforms etc

The biggest thing going on that corridor is frequency alone. Before the Jul 2016 changes, Arriva had a major touch between Station Road and Newcastle but since GNE changed it, GNE have an edge now as well as on most 309 Newcastle bound journeys due to the timings. Unless a student wants to save some money for 'Digital Mondays' or somebody wants to charge their phone, punters will take the first bus that comes.

After that, it's down to ticketing / frequency and although both are on par with ticketing depending on individual needs (local vs further a field travel etc), Arriva also have an edge on evening services with more early / late buses including the timing of them

(08 Feb 2017, 6:32 pm)peter wrote I suppose it is arguable that any service which did not have an "X" as part of the service number prior to going MAX saw the brand being stretched to incorporate it...Yet the 75/6 and 46 are really the only two examples of this to date. In theory Arriva should have stuck to the services they had already deemed worthy of the "X" as part of the route number to signify an "express" route (though I still use the word express loosely even so!)

Regardless, I do see the X46 as the threshold between using the brand appropriately as an identification of an express/interurban route and exploiting it for profitability (and thus branding routes for the sake of it!)

I'm sure everyone realises renumbering to the X46 is purely to make the route sound more attractive to passengers. The 'X' is as much a part of the brand as the 'MAX' logo or livery. Arriva aren't the first corporation to do so and won't be the last. Is there any difference between Lidl baked beans and Waitrose baked beans? Probably not, but many people will presume Waitrose is better because of the brand they have built.

The X46 still pretty much follows the route a car driver would take between Crook and Durham, so is still 'direct' as such. The 306/308 MAXing is a bit close to deviating from the brand concept technically, but clearly it's been decided MAX will stand up better against Cobalt Clipper than Frequenta. Once again, it's about what MAX suggests to the passenger, more than what the reality of the product is. Joe Bloggs stood in Haymarket wanting to get to the coast is going to subconsciously conclude that the X38 is faster than the 309. If Arriva win the passenger, they win the battle - however much we pick apart their efforts.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:35 pm)James101 wrote I'm sure everyone realises renumbering to the X46 is purely to make the route sound more attractive to passengers. The 'X' is as much a part of the brand as the 'MAX' logo or livery. Arriva aren't the first corporation to do so and won't be the last. Is there any difference between Lidl baked beans and Waitrose baked beans? Probably not, but many people will presume Waitrose is better because of the brand they have built.

The X46 still pretty much follows the route a car driver would take between Crook and Durham, so is still 'direct' as such. The 306/308 MAXing is a bit close to deviating from the brand concept technically, but clearly it's been decided MAX will stand up better against Cobalt Clipper than Frequenta. Once again, it's about what MAX suggests to the passenger, more than what the reality of the product is. Joe Bloggs stood in Haymarket wanting to get to the coast is going to subconsciously conclude that the X38 is faster than the 309. If Arriva win the passenger, they win the battle - however much we pick apart their efforts.

Something that hasn't been mentioned, was that the 46 was known as the X46 (it may have been the X45 or something else at one point) in days gone by. But I am fairly sure that it was only fairly recently that the prefix was actually dropped on the Crook - Durham/Newcastle route.

Indeed, wasn't it also peak extensions to Newcastle?

Maybe there's an idea in bringing back peak extensions to Newcastle on some routes to win custom. Bus is then utilised by Jesmond on locals in Newcastle then sent back on a PM X46 to Stanhope via Durham. 

But that would involve inter-depot co-operation and some thinking outside the box. Mental.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote Something that hasn't been mentioned, was that the 46 was known as the X46 (it may have been the X45 or something else at one point) in days gone by. But I am fairly sure that it was only fairly recently that the prefix was actually dropped on the Crook - Durham/Newcastle route.

Indeed, the Crook to Durham service used to be the X46 when it used to run to Newcastle. So, in effect, it is a return to the original service number rather than simply renumbering it to fit the MAX brand. Similarly, there used to be an X75 between Darlington and Banard Castle so likewise there. One interesting thing to note is that there's nothing yet to suggest the 306/308 will be renumbered X36/X38 - remember that Yorkshire's MAX network is based on interurban services not eXpress services (mainly because they only have interurban routes and their expresses tend to be peak time only operations).

(08 Feb 2017, 9:57 pm)James101 wrote Indeed, wasn't it also peak extensions to Newcastle?

Maybe there's an idea in bringing back peak extensions to Newcastle on some routes to win custom. Bus is then utilised by Jesmond on locals in Newcastle then sent back on a PM X46 to Stanhope via Durham. 

But that would involve inter-depot co-operation and some thinking outside the box. Mental.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:58 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Indeed, the Crook to Durham service used to be the X46 when it used to run to Newcastle. So, in effect, it is a return to the original service number rather than simply renumbering it to fit the MAX brand. Similarly, there used to be an X75 between Darlington and Banard Castle so likewise there. One interesting thing to note is that there's nothing yet to suggest the 306/308 will be renumbered X36/X38 - remember that Yorkshire's MAX network is based on interurban services not eXpress services (mainly because they only have interurban routes and their expresses tend to be peak time only operations).

For a period, it was an all day extension to Newcastle, rather than just in peaks.

Again I am going off memory here, but it may have been Crook - Chester in the mid/late 90's.

(08 Feb 2017, 6:06 pm)South Tyne wrote I personally prefer branding from how First do it, Featuring bold, However differing color's from the corporate livery, Despite being based on the same design as Corporate, With Route Brands applied from there, However anyone will know that the bus is ran by First.
Another one I could rate better than First is Transdev, However It would take me ages to write about how good it is...

Be careful what you wish for there. First seem to have got it right in some areas - Yorkshire, Bristol, Cornwall. But their attempts at bringing the rainbow to the Potteries operation was the biggest branding fail I've seen. Multiple routes launched without reprints, reprints of non DDA buses in Autumn 2015 and route branding which listed places not served & advertising wifi never installed. 

I agree Transdev have some great brands; Coastliner & Witch Way have stood the test of time and I really like CityZap and Tadfaster.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:35 pm)James101 wrote The 306/308 MAXing is a bit close to deviating from the brand concept technically, but clearly it's been decided MAX will stand up better against Cobalt Clipper than Frequenta. Once again, it's about what MAX suggests to the passenger, more than what the reality of the product is. Joe Bloggs stood in Haymarket wanting to get to the coast is going to subconsciously conclude that the X38 is faster than the 309. If Arriva win the passenger, they win the battle - however much we pick apart their efforts.

Some more taglines for some ex B&H Scanias if any spare:

- Don't just get on any express, get on the REAL EXPRESS and MAXimise time to enjoy your day!

- Don't MAXimise the time spent stopping, just get there quick and easy with us!

(07 Feb 2017, 8:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As it was mentioned in the Odd workings thread..........
1472 has transferred to Durham, with Stockton retaining 1474.

Wrong! It was just a short term loan as mentioned in the odd workings thread.
Back at Stockton now, was used on the MC2 run this morning.
1474 will return to Durham to release 7424 to return to Redcar in time for the summer X93s.

Is the X30 operated by Blyth depot now?

(10 Feb 2017, 12:05 am)DavidSBrough wrote Is the X30 operated by Blyth depot now?

Most journeys. One morning journey is ran by Ashington I'm led to believe.

(09 Feb 2017, 8:23 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wrong! It was just a short term loan as mentioned in the odd workings thread.
Back at Stockton now, was used on the MC2 run this morning.
1474 will return to Durham to release 7424 to return to Redcar in time for the summer X93s.

And 1512 to Jesmond.

(10 Feb 2017, 10:47 am)omnicity4659 wrote Most journeys. One morning journey is ran by Ashington I'm led to believe.

Atleast one evening journey is also ran by them I believe

7404 came into M'bro bus station on the X93 where a silver van had been waiting ages, and they then appeared to be changing the windscreen!

(10 Feb 2017, 4:00 pm)Cock Robin wrote 7404 came into M'bro bus station on the X93 where a silver van had been waiting ages, and they then appeared to be changing the windscreen!

Autoglass?

(10 Feb 2017, 4:19 pm)Andreos1 wrote Autoglass?

Gardiners apparently.

(10 Feb 2017, 7:20 pm)Sinky19 wrote 2866 on 1/5/5A/19.

It's out all night as well staff bus driver had it at 19:57

Why is it that we can't travel to Blyth without breaking the bus we're on? 7806 just went into limp mode, thankfully not too far from the bus station before the driver gave up!

(10 Feb 2017, 3:26 pm)Cock Robin wrote And 1512 to Jesmond.

The start of the sparkles expanding into Jesmond depot...

(12 Feb 2017, 1:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote The start of the sparkles expanding into Jesmond depot...

what route will it be fore

1452 back at Stockton after a short loan to Jesmond.

Middlesbrough workings on a Sunday (27s 29As 17s 9s and X12s) will be operated by the Streetlites. This is due to the lower fuel consumption compared to the pulsars

Are there any new buses due for Arriva North of the Tyne this year?

Do Ashington plan on putting the Sapphire advertisement vinyls on all of 7522-8?

(13 Feb 2017, 4:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote Are there any new buses due for Arriva North of the Tyne this year?

Some new deckers I believe.

Stockton is to lose 1512 to Jesmond on Friday. It's getting sent up to cover metro replacement deckers and isn't coming back down. Tomorrow will be its last day in service at Stockton

Just read in the news bit on here that 1474 has transferred from Stockton to Belmont

Just seen 1474 on X22 in sedgefield heading for Middlesbrough

(17 Feb 2017, 11:08 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote Just read in the news bit on here that 1474 has transferred from Stockton to Belmont

Just seen 1474 on X22 in sedgefield heading for Middlesbrough

From this weekend.