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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 8, 2008 19:50:06 GMT 1
What are everyone's views on Arriva Yorkshire's "Connecting" route branding?
What services would you like to see it on? Do you think it would brighten up some of the older buses that need a re-paint?
appreciate anyone's opinions,
thanks.
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Post by guyarab on Jan 9, 2008 21:17:48 GMT 1
I am not keen on route branding as I am not sure they serve any real purpose. Do they really attract new customers? The 268 had some half-hearted route branding some years ago, but this fizzled out as it had arrived without any real "push" about the idea from the operator. Even the current crop have not had any quality publicity to gain ridership. What's even worse is when a route branded bus strays on to other routes.
First Group seems to like them with their 'Red Line' etc., but should we look for something quite small as a coloured band and a destination reading 'Red Line'? Surely a customer has to know which 'line' is theirs, so presumably First sent out door to door literature did they? Not sure Arriva have because neither I nor anyone else I have spoken to has received anything.
If we are to have them, then I reckon the 268 should be given another try and get some publicity out for whichever might be next.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jan 9, 2008 22:06:38 GMT 1
When the 202/203 was relaunched, a glossy leaflet was produced explaining all about the timetable and the new buses
In my opinion they should have the "Connecting" branding on the 268, 163/166, 184/5/9 and a simplified Wakefield to Pontefract corridor using slightly less than the 5 numbers they use on this corridor at the moment
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Post by jackh on Jan 9, 2008 23:22:16 GMT 1
The 184/5/9. That would be interesting, as that interworks with the 410 at Leeds and Pontefract I think. Connecting Five Towns, Wakefield and Leeds could it be called?
With ALX400s been repainted, I would of thought they would of been branded Connecting Castleford and Leeds or something.
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 10, 2008 18:05:59 GMT 1
Possibly a "Connecting Wakefield and Pontefract" branding for the 149/150.
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Post by Craig on Jan 10, 2008 20:20:08 GMT 1
Possibly a "Connecting Wakefield and Pontefract" branding for the 149/150. But as already mentioned, its the 145/148/149/150/450, and I dread to think what crazy interworking also happens at Pontefract etc. All very hard to fit into an easily understood route branding design! This is one reason Arriva can't really route brand - because of the numerous route variations and interworking that goes on. The few 'straight forward' routes, like the 202/203 or 195/196 therefore are able to be branded. |
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 10, 2008 20:24:34 GMT 1
I see where your coming from. I imagine it would be more confusing with route branding than it is without.
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Post by angrycommuter on Jan 11, 2008 12:49:57 GMT 1
Branding a service does work - the success of Trent Barton is evidence of that who have elimated route numbers for many of their services, instead naming them. The newsletter and other info on their website goes into detail about this. But the brand must be maintained or else it will be useless. Branded buses should not be used on other services and they should be kept in tip-top condition. First and Arriva's attempts at branding are very poor compared to the success of Trent Barton's buses.
I think the worst attempt at branding was Black Prince's on the route 63B they used to operate from Leeds to Boddington Hall. The brand was an opaque sticker on the window by the luggage rack on buses that carried Liverpool's MTL livery with Black Prince name applied (the J810 HMC batch of buses).
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 11, 2008 19:31:18 GMT 1
Another great branding that works successfully is Brighton and Hove's "Metro" branding. The design looks great and is well maintained and kept in top condition and up to date. I think the UniLink livery at First is good and reminds me of the SuperBus branding during the Yorkshire Rider days. would be interesting to see more branding like this.
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Post by samba on Jan 12, 2008 9:48:35 GMT 1
they should route brand all of them "connecting on time" maybe that would get you there for the price you have to pay.
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Post by lynxboy252 on Jan 14, 2008 9:23:20 GMT 1
With all these thoughts on which buses should carry Connecting... branding they might as well brand everything.
The routes mentioned already have already been branded when Arriva took over but they didn't last long, in fact, some of the Strider B10B's still have the original 410 branding above the windows.
Whilst it looks good when first applied and gets peoples attention, branding soon gets out of date. Another thread mentions the cost of tickets being removed and what about when they re-route a branded route?
I can see the use of it, telling the passenger the major stopping points on the route. Personally, I think they look fine without it. Moving vehicles between depots is probably the biggest fau pa when branded buses go on the wrong routes etc. Time then has to be spent removing it from the buses, which is a waste of time and a waste of the branding.
Adam
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Post by angrycommuter on Jan 14, 2008 13:51:11 GMT 1
Out of the current Dewsbury / Heckmondwike routes, I think the following should be "Connecting": 126/127 already done (Connecting Wakefield and Dewsbury) 202/203 already done (Connecting Kirklees) 209/219/229 should be done but the routes are intertwined with others so would not work at present 220/221 same as above 254/255 Connecting Cleckheaton and Leeds would work for part of the route but the services continue on to Brighouse, Dewsbury and Wakefield so could look out of place 268 Connecting The Spen Valley - should be done 281/283 Connecting Thornhill and Batley?  ! |
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Post by jackh on Jan 14, 2008 16:35:28 GMT 1
I suppose apart from the 125/127. They all could be branded Connecting Kirklees.
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Post by lynxboy252 on Jan 14, 2008 17:07:38 GMT 1
I can see the hassle forming now when years down the line they'd want to transfer buses between depots, some poor guy is going to get RSI peeling off all the vinyls  How about "Connecting Cleckhuddersfax" which covers a wider area?  Adam |
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 14, 2008 21:17:37 GMT 1
I know what you mean about the B10B Striders with the orange and yellow route branding above the windows! these were also branded for the 110 service for a while before the DB250 Spectras arrived in May 1999.
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Post by Craig on Jan 15, 2008 19:49:09 GMT 1
I suppose apart from the 125/127. They all could be branded Connecting Kirklees. A generic Connecting Kirkless brand would work well for the whole 2xx service network provided that they made some effort first to reintroduce better service frequencies and where possible less of these short workings that are now so prevalent... not that it will happen! |
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 17, 2008 19:18:31 GMT 1
I agree a "Connecting Kirklees" brand for Dewsbury's network would keep it nice and simple, but how about a "Connecting West Riding" brand for Wakefield's network of services?
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Post by Craig on Jan 17, 2008 19:26:02 GMT 1
I agree a "Connecting Kirklees" brand for Dewsbury's network would keep it nice and simple, but how about a "Connecting West Riding" brand for Wakefield's network of services? Again not a bad idea, but in today's world I'm sure it would be considered too much of a backward step! Arriva have completely replaced the old West Riding brand with their corporate image; they won't be in a hurry to reverse that. |
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Post by lynxboy252 on Jan 22, 2008 21:59:38 GMT 1
I think Connecting West Riding is a tad too general for specific route branding. Besides, Ridings is a bit of an obsolete term now as Yorkshire technically isn't divided into the three Ridings.
I quite like the way they've approached it at the moment.
Mind you, I was in Doncaster on Saturday and watched a Belle Isle Commander enter the interchange. It was 1406 YJ56 YJN on the 496 to Donny. The branding on the Commander is for the 496 / 498 Wakefield - Fitzwilliam - Hemsworth - South Elmsall. Two things wrong. One, the 498 doesn't exist anymore. Two, there's no mention on the branding that the bus will serve Doncaster. Defeats the object of branding. I know it says on the front of the bus where it goes, plus the scrolling stops but it sort of renders the branding useless in a way.
Sunday morning I saw a 126 / 127 branded Commander on the Knottingley runs.
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Post by jimbob90 on Jan 23, 2008 20:17:53 GMT 1
Also noticed the branding for the 195 / 196 / 197 even though the 197 no longer operates. Maybe the 498 should be removed from the "Connecting Hemsworth" branding and replaced with the 485.
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Post by jimbob90 on Jul 21, 2008 20:05:56 GMT 1
The "Connecting Hemsworth" Branded Commanders have had new branding applied to them.
It now lists 194/195/196 Barnsley - Hemsworth - Ryhill - New Crofton - Wakefield
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