Haha, how old is he?

12. He's been working very hard on pencil control and neatness as patience isn't his middle name and he's inherited my joint problems in his hands. Practically lives in the art room at school.

12. He's been working very hard on pencil control and neatness as patience isn't his middle name and he's inherited my joint problems in his hands. Practically lives in the art room at school.

Much better than me at drawing and I am 11. I am much worse at drawing and if he has joint issues that makes them better because he is in pain

Much better than me at drawing and I am 11. I am much worse at drawing and if he has joint issues that makes them better because he is in pain

What he lacks in pencil control, he makes up for in an eye for little details. I wasn't great at your age, either, but it didn't stop me from going on to gain an o-level in art.

What he lacks in pencil control, he makes up for in an eye for little details. I wasn't great at your age, either, but it didn't stop me from going on to gain an o-level in art.

Nah, not my thing I prefer geography

Nah, not my thing I prefer geography

I don't even think he does geography all the time! His school is tiny, so doesn't offer as many subjects as a big secondary school. Most of the lads end up going down the computing, engineering or art & design path, so it suits him down to the ground in all those ways.

Funnily enough I had a similar thing with a friend the other week.  He text me to ask me what time the 639 was due.  Similarly, a lot of people in my local area still refer to 'The Northern'.  And not just older people either.

The same woman was recently referring to Goahead Gateshead as the operator.

On a slightly connected note, has anyone else noted that the colouring on these funky branded buses doesn't seem to weather as well as the traditional colours seen of old?

No idea whether it is my eyes, the paint quality/ingredients or the chemicals used in washing the vehicles - but they seem washed out.
I have noticed one or two Washington Mercs looking pale recently.

The same woman was recently referring to Goahead Gateshead as the operator.

On a slightly connected note, has anyone else noted that the colouring on these funky branded buses doesn't seem to weather as well as the traditional colours seen of old?

No idea whether it is my eyes, the paint quality/ingredients or the chemicals used in washing the vehicles - but they seem washed out.
I have noticed one or two Washington Mercs looking pale recently.

Not sure, but remember the old Vauxhall Red effect? You'd have a pink car after 10 years.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Not sure, b♧ut remember the old ♧Vauxhall Red effect? You'd have a pink car after 10 years.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Better known as the Stadium of Light red seats effect

Better known as the Stadium of Light red seats effect

Or the red seat back handles in the Omnidekkas red. More of a dirty salmon pink.

I've been pretty vocal about the one line/ultimate point destinations being used by GNE recently.

I have also touched on the lack of a standard design regarding key points on a route. The rear linear style on the 20's not outlining any variation in routes (all four of them) and the 49's seeing a similar design, despite there being variations in route.
Obviously they are just two examples of the many different designs in place.

If GNE are to persist with the single line destination, then I do feel a uniform design outlining key calling points needs to be implemented.
Branding can be adapted around this.

Just as an example of what I mean, some deckers have the key calling points towards the nearside rear of the vehicle. I think the hybrids feature a similar example on the 1.
Wouldn't this be better suited towards the front of the vehicle? Where potential boarding passengers are going to be standing. 
It might iritate the #saveourwindows members, but if located down the window surrounding the folded seats area, then backs are going to be against the glass anyway. Not sure it is spoiling anyones view.

Surely the point in listing these things on the vehicle in the first place, is to raise awareness and increase the numbers of bums on seats. 
I am pretty sure having it nearer the door, it will also have the potential to inform and reassure intending passengers.
Granted there will always be the one passenger who needs reassurance/clarification, but for those using a pass and not asking for a cash fare to a certain point...

What a farce branding is at the moment! Lol. I

What a farce branding is at the moment! Lol. I

How?

Because of arriva strike.

Because of arriva strike.

Its exceptional circumstances. They're going to put as much capacity out with as little resource as possible.

Just another example of how it doesn't work.

Just another example of how it doesn't work.

Or... A cycling of the buses each day to ensure as many different vehicles as possible are given some run time - in an effort to avoid problems come Monday morning.

I don't think anyone at Arriva is bothered about branding at the minute.

Nobody will go to brand their fleet, then step back and say "hang on, what if we go on strike?".

Really?

Dunno about anyone else, but I've been watching the BBC series 'a house in time'.
Canny little programme, but this series has been focusing on a house just off Westgate Road.

The production team have shown quite a bit of modern Newcastle and inevitably, buses have appeared quite a bit across the city.

ANE and SNE have had quite a lot of free advertising. 
If I was an outsider looking in, I'd have no idea there was a GNE prescence. There was a hotch potch of multicoloured buses tootling back and forth, but not sure who runs them. An independent perhaps? An ANE or SNE division?

Dunno about anyone else, but I've been watching the BBC series 'a house in time'.
Canny little programme, but this series has been focusing on a house just off Westgate Road.

The production team have shown quite a bit of modern Newcastle and inevitably, buses have appeared quite a bit across the city.

ANE and SNE have had quite a lot of free advertising. 
If I was an outsider looking in, I'd have no idea there was a GNE prescence. There was a hotch potch of multicoloured buses tootling back and forth, but not sure who runs them. An independent perhaps? An ANE or SNE division?

Branding or not is certainly an interesting debate and I have long been conflicted about whether I like identity branding like GNE, uniform branding like Stagecoach or uniform livery with sub-branding like Arriva. There are of course exceptions too, GNE has a corporate livery, Stagecoach introduced a green livery for their hybrids and has long had a Metrocentre brand for the 100 shuttle and more recently the 6/7. Arriva also has different liveries such as Coastliner, the NHS and Quorum Solos, the purple/grey livery and older and newer corporate liveries. Independents largely have a uniform livery, Stanley Travel white and blue with or without red, GCT using the Nexus Bus livery of grey and red, A-Line either white or grey and pink. Uniform/corporate branding is certainly more instantly recognisable and consistent.  Identities like with GNE are iconic, for example Quaylink has long been the iconic yellow for running around the Quayside, and can be useful 'Tynedale/Tyne Valley', 'Quaylink', 'Cobalt and Coast/Coaster/Little Coasters', relevant to a service or area served 'Red Kite, Angel, Black Cats ' but can also be daft 'The 9/The 49, Connection4, Fab 56, City Link 57/58, Toon Link, Green/Blue Arrow' etc.

Consistent branding is a good compromise, like we are seeing now with the new and refreshed identities like Cobalt & Coast, Little Coasters, Green Arrow, and X-lines. 

Thoughts?

 

Branding or not is certainly an interesting debate and I have long been conflicted about whether I like identity branding like GNE, uniform branding like Stagecoach or uniform livery with sub-branding like Arriva. There are of course exceptions too, GNE has a corporate livery, Stagecoach introduced a green livery for their hybrids and has long had a Metrocentre brand for the 100 shuttle and more recently the 6/7. Arriva also has different liveries such as Coastliner, the NHS and Quorum Solos, the purple/grey livery and older and newer corporate liveries. Independents largely have a uniform livery, Stanley Travel white and blue with or without red, GCT using the Nexus Bus livery of grey and red, A-Line either white or grey and pink. Uniform/corporate branding is certainly more instantly recognisable and consistent.  Identities like with GNE are iconic, for example Quaylink has long been the iconic yellow for running around the Quayside, and can be useful 'Tynedale/Tyne Valley', 'Quaylink', 'Cobalt and Coast/Coaster/Little Coasters', relevant to a service or area served 'Red Kite, Angel, Black Cats ' but can also be daft 'The 9/The 49, Connection4, Fab 56, City Link 57/58, Toon Link, Green/Blue Arrow' etc.

Consistent branding is a good compromise, like we are seeing now with the new and refreshed identities like Cobalt & Coast, Little Coasters, Green Arrow, and X-lines. 

Thoughts?

 

I like the approach that GNE are taking.

I personally find Stagecoach boring, I don't even see their buses driving through Newcastle anymore, they just blend in. (maybe that's why they keep having 'incidents'!)

I like the idea behind Arriva's, but as with everything they do, the execution just hasn't worked. What is the difference between MAX and Sapphire? Wasn't Sapphire supposed to be posh with dedicated drivers and uniform? Are MAX routes express? What even is Arriva's current livery?!

While we are losing some good brands, I think simplifying the branding is a good idea. I'm really coming round to X-Lines! I'm not a fan of Cobalt and Coast, it just seems a bit half-arsed to me. But I do like Little Coasters and Green Arrows, they're bright but not over the top (like Fab 56!)

What I would like to see is something like X-Lines but for the more urban routes.
So basically, what I'm saying is GNE should just take what Arriva did with MAX and Sapphire, but put effort into making them good!

Branding or not is certainly an interesting debate and I have long been conflicted about whether I like identity branding like GNE, uniform branding like Stagecoach or uniform livery with sub-branding like Arriva. There are of course exceptions too, GNE has a corporate livery, Stagecoach introduced a green livery for their hybrids and has long had a Metrocentre brand for the 100 shuttle and more recently the 6/7. Arriva also has different liveries such as Coastliner, the NHS and Quorum Solos, the purple/grey livery and older and newer corporate liveries. Independents largely have a uniform livery, Stanley Travel white and blue with or without red, GCT using the Nexus Bus livery of grey and red, A-Line either white or grey and pink. Uniform/corporate branding is certainly more instantly recognisable and consistent.  Identities like with GNE are iconic, for example Quaylink has long been the iconic yellow for running around the Quayside, and can be useful 'Tynedale/Tyne Valley', 'Quaylink', 'Cobalt and Coast/Coaster/Little Coasters', relevant to a service or area served 'Red Kite, Angel, Black Cats ' but can also be daft 'The 9/The 49, Connection4, Fab 56, City Link 57/58, Toon Link, Green/Blue Arrow' etc.

Consistent branding is a good compromise, like we are seeing now with the new and refreshed identities like Cobalt & Coast, Little Coasters, Green Arrow, and X-lines. 

Thoughts?

 

Forgetting whether an express is actually an express or not, I do like the consistent approach which is being taken on that particular type of route.
I do like the consistency there. 
Whether that consistency ties in with the overall corporate identity - I'm not sure.

Ive voiced my opinions on the brand names many a time and it hasn't changed at all.

Personally I prefer Stagecoach's approach where every route is treat the same bar a few gold routes which are longer routes where you're expected to be on the bus for longer travel times.

Once you start doing stuff like the X Lines and Sapphire you end up having a mixed image imo. By this I mean that some bus routes are treat like a special route and get all the attention yet if you don't live on one of these routes you end up with nothing and usually resultingly: older buses, no features, no special fares (more expensive), crap service, bad / no evening service.

By using Stagecoach's approach everyone is treat the same, no special route fares, all buses are the same (okay newer ones might have NSA etc) so it gives off a uniform brand across the board. GNE for example if you live in Birtley you have the 21: new buses, much cheaper, 15 minute service, direct to Newcastle. Live 5 minutes West in Ouston you have the 28: older buses, expensive, no evening service til recently, goes around the world, .

That's just my opinion though.

What’s the story with the Green Arrows brand?
I guess when the Red Arrows brand came on the scene it was an express route with red buses so they named them after the red arrow planes - something the majority of people are aware of have connotations to speed and something quite cool and impressive.
But then Green Arrows popped up, followed by Blue Arrows(?) - back then GNE just seemed to want to brand everything, so they probably changed the colour on the fill tool to easily reuse an existing design & bang, another route branded. Okay, fair enough.

However now in the new era, if you will, where they’ve realised a corporate identity and house style would be beneficial and look more professional, Im curious to why they felt the need to maintain the Green Arrows brand.
I don’t use the route but can’t work out any local link to the name, (unlike when it was The Highwayman), and Whickham & Lobley Hill don’t exactly have other operators serving them that GNE needed to stand out from & compete with.

Since the enviro200MMCs arrived in the latest variation of Green Arrow livery I couldn’t help but wonder why they bothered keeping the brand in the first place, then why use an amateurish looking font, in a colour that doesn’t really contrast enough from its background to be easily read from a distance, and why the road strips didn’t stand out much either - which were the one thing that was supposed to make it easily recognisable as a GNE bus.

Just my opinion of course and everyone has their own tastes. I know many of you love the Green Arrows.

Thoughts?

What’s the story with the Green Arrows brand?
I guess when the Red Arrows brand came on the scene it was an express route with red buses so they named them after the red arrow planes - something the majority of people are aware of have connotations to speed and something quite cool and impressive.
But then Green Arrows popped up, followed by Blue Arrows(?) - back then GNE just seemed to want to brand everything, so they probably changed the colour on the fill tool to easily reuse an existing design & bang, another route branded. Okay, fair enough.

However now in the new era, if you will, where they’ve realised a corporate identity and house style would be beneficial and look more professional, Im curious to why they felt the need to maintain the Green Arrows brand.
I don’t use the route but can’t work out any local link to the name, (unlike when it was The Highwayman), and Whickham & Lobley Hill don’t exactly have other operators serving them that GNE needed to stand out from & compete with.

Since the enviro200MMCs arrived in the latest variation of Green Arrow livery I couldn’t help but wonder why they bothered keeping the brand in the first place, then why use an amateurish looking font, in a colour that doesn’t really contrast enough from its background to be easily read from a distance, and why the road strips didn’t stand out much either - which were the one thing that was supposed to make it easily recognisable as a GNE bus.

Just my opinion of course and everyone has their own tastes. I know many of you love the Green Arrows.

Thoughts?

Don't forget the Silver version used on the 2A and C between Washington and Sunderland.

I think the red version was 'inspired' by the service in Nottingham.
Coaches - tick
Two major regional cities - tick
Express/limited stop along fast roads - tick

Then the others came along like you say, in addition to the red colour scheme being rolled out on two other 'via Washington' expresses. You could be right about that template/colour scheme! Blue, green, silver and the other red incarnations certainly didn't tick the boxes the original X2 (or its equivalent in Nottingham) did.

Don't forget the Silver version used on the 2A and C between Washington and Sunderland.

I think the red version was 'inspired' by the service in Nottingham.
Coaches - tick
Two major regional cities - tick
Express/limited stop along fast roads - tick

Then the others came along like you say, in addition to the red colour scheme being rolled out on two other 'via Washington' expresses. You could be right about that template/colour scheme! Blue, green, silver and the other red incarnations certainly didn't tick the boxes the original X2 (or its equivalent in Nottingham) did.

Yes, I forgot about the Silver version too.

In fact as Red Arrows was destined for the chop because of Xlines, I'd say there was even less reason to keep the Green Arrow brand. Oh well.

It's nice to see branding has moved on since the days of the Star Trek inspired Stanley Shuttle (which considering the route wasn't really a shuttle and in an era where anything and everything was branded)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stagecoachuk/14228803417/

I did quite enjoy the Washington Street Shuttle branding, purely for the subtle nod to it's American links.

Personally 'Pink Angel' was my least favourite - possibly due to the Omnicities that run the route and just the garish nature of it.

https://twitter.com/BusManual/status/131...60833?s=19

The contsant state of flux with branding and various liveries isn't just a new thing!

A really good read.

https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/stat...49474?s=19

Services with desirable localised branding seems to be what Mr French is in favour of.
Not the uniform designs that Arriva and Stagecoach use. 

I hope the irony isn't lost on anyone else, 'cos the sycophants on his twitter seem to have missed it.

https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/stat...49474?s=19

Services with desirable localised branding seems to be what Mr French is in favour of.
Not the uniform designs that Arriva and Stagecoach use. 

I hope the irony isn't lost on anyone else, 'cos the sycophants on his twitter seem to have missed it.

Stagecoach have had a corporate livery, and very little else, for as long as I can remember. They're also arguably the most recognisable bus company in the country, my mates who don't have the faintest idea about anything that would be discussed on here for example, would always know what a Stagecoach bus was. 

And the "short-sighted" section, didn't GNE do similar with printed timetables a few years back? So much for being "in the vanguard".

Stagecoach have had a corporate livery, and very little else, for as long as I can remember. They're also arguably the most recognisable bus company in the country, my mates who don't have the faintest idea about anything that would be discussed on here for example, would always know what a Stagecoach bus was.  

And the "short-sighted" section, didn't GNE do similar with printed timetables a few years back? So much for being "in the vanguard".

Whereas most other companies have some sort of road-stripe and use a similar font to describe a rough operating area, the app and some calling points. With not many clues as to who the operator actually is.
The same localised design he advocates, is copied and pasted all over in various localities across the country...

https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/stat...49474?s=19

Services with desirable localised branding seems to be what Mr French is in favour of.
Not the uniform designs that Arriva and Stagecoach use. 

I hope the irony isn't lost on anyone else, 'cos the sycophants on his twitter seem to have missed it.

Uniform designs that Arriva and Stagecoach use, as oppose to the uniform designs that design agencies use with multiple clients?  

French is a bit of a mark when it comes to branding, and I'm far from convinced that it is a contributor towards organic growth. For example, often when growth was talked about in the past, it often neglected to mention the wholesale changes to the network and amalgamation of services. Of course there's going to be 'growth' on service 1 if service 2 no longer exists, but it is not new customers.

I'm also not convinced that the vast majority of First customers in Penzance will know anything about First's operation in Aberdeen, for example, yet alone care about it sharing the same livery.

Stagecoach have had a corporate livery, and very little else, for as long as I can remember. They're also arguably the most recognisable bus company in the country, my mates who don't have the faintest idea about anything that would be discussed on here for example, would always know what a Stagecoach bus was. 

And the "short-sighted" section, didn't GNE do similar with printed timetables a few years back? So much for being "in the vanguard".

Yep, and this is typical of French's writing. He neglects to mention that Go-Ahead have also closed travel shops; Chester-le-Street, Washington permanently, and with the Metrocentre one being closed 'due to COVID', I don't think that'll be far behind.