First Leeds Geminis and branding

[revol]

Carrying on from the other topic...

I think all First Leeds routes (minus the 1 and 4 of course) should all use Geminis. I've noticed the 37 and 71 have started to get some but I feel the 18 should use them too. I've seen Geminis on 33s and 56s in the evenings and they look smarter compared to the scruffy ALXs and Royales. The same branding sould be kept for the 33 and 56 but placed onto Geminis.

This is what I think each branding should say:

16: Seacroft - Coldcotes Circus - City Centre - Bramley Shopping Centre - Pudsey
18: One side: Garforth - York Road - City Centre - Kirkstall Lane - Tinshill, other side: Colton - York Road - City Centre - Kirkstall Lane - Ireland Wood
37: Halton Moor - York Road - Leeds
40/50 (For the Geminis): One side: City Centre - Cross Gates - Seacroft, other side: Seacroft - City Centre - Horsforth
42: Old Farnley - Copley Hill - City Centre - St. James' Hospital - Fearnville
51: Moor Allerton - Meanwood - City Centre - Elland Road - Morley
71: Primley Park - Scott Hall - Leeds
96: Holt Park - Cookridge - Universities - Leeds

Obviously with the route name and "every 10 minutes" insignia included. The 40/50 should have similar branding to the 2/3/12/13, including the stickers saying "THE ORANGE LINE" and "THE INDIGO LINE" at the front of the top deck but obviously with different colours. I think this would give other Gemini regulars such as the 16, 42 and 51 a bit of identity.

This was all inspired by looking at Bradford and Halifax overground buses where they're all Geminis with branding included, making Leeds' fleet look a bit shabby in comparison.

[jackh]

Yes, but how often do you find branded buses on the wrong routes in Halifax/Huddersfield. Fairly often wouldn't you agree. Look at First's track record of misallocating branded buses in Leeds as well.

Plus, branding that is applied to windows makes the bus look shabby when windows are replaced etc. etc. Look at the 56 branded ALX400s, point made.

The 2006 batch of Geminis were supposed to recieve branding, coving info panels etc etc for their respected routes. However this didn't materialise.

The 71, you can't brand them as the Peach Line as they spend 50% of their time on the other Scott Hall Road routes. However, First could revive the Superbus brand for the Scott Halls.

With the 40 and 50/50A branding, is it the bubble branding or promotional branding you are thinking of?

[revol]

Apr 12, 2008 21:22:20 GMT 1 @jackh said:

Yes, but how often do you find branded buses on the wrong routes in Halifax/Huddersfield. Fairly often wouldn't you agree. Look at First's track record of misallocating branded buses in Leeds as well.

Plus, branding that is applied to windows makes the bus look shabby when windows are replaced etc. etc. Look at the 56 branded ALX400s, point made.

The 2006 batch of Geminis were supposed to recieve branding, coving info panels etc etc for their respected routes. However this didn't materialise.

The 71, you can't brand them as the Peach Line as they spend 50% of their time on the other Scott Hall Road routes. However, First could revive the Superbus brand for the Scott Halls.

With the 40 and 50/50A branding, is it the bubble branding or promotional branding you are thinking of?

I've seen a few 508s in Leeds with 503 branding but that's it.

And I was referring to the bubble branding. Not sure if pictures of Seacroft and Hawksworth Estate on the side of a bus would really be attractive. ;D

[nick]

As jack kindly pointed out if First Leeds were to brand all these buses for the routes most or nearly all would end up on a different route. I mean the 33/33A branding on the roayles they always seem to make an appearance on the 96,28,X84,School Buses L08 L07 and some other's spring to mind making this branding a total waste of money and time.

The best thing to do is to have some dedicated buses to these routes that are not branded such as 6 Geminis for the 37(i think it only needs that many to do a full rotation).

If First were to brand the 71 over 75% of all the branded buses would end up on the other Scott hall routes.

The 96 would be a good idea the only thing though is the Geminis would have to be dual door as this route gets Farley busy and i mean busy(0920 till about 1100 Journeys from Holt Park one is worth taking to look how busy it gets). And plus although the area/estates are really nice which Polaroids would you have on the side of the bus Holt Park,Rail Station,Weetwood Police Station,Headingley Centre, University, Market nothing of interest really. I think the only reason why the 2/3/12/13 have got that type of branding is because of amount of local interests it has on the routes i mean i can count at least 5 just typing now.

[revol]

Well by pure miracle the new Geminis for the 71s/Scott Halls have now been branded. The branding lists the 35, 45, 47, 71 and X35. Couldn't get a picture though.

[jackh]

What Geminis on the Scott Halls? You must be mistaken for the Wright Eclipse *Urbans*. The Geminis are the double deck product from Wright!

[jimbob90]

I saw a couple of these today. It is the new 08 plate Urban's.

[jack97]

theres a pic of one of the wright eclipses on halifaxbusphotos.fotopic.net

[Craig]

Quite typical of First - in the above fotopic set the picture of this brand new Scott Hall service branding is shown on a 18 heading for Tinshill...