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Post by deerfold on Jul 4, 2021 9:34:32 GMT 1
Well that's better than just doing it on a twitter account nobody in YT land has ever heard of, but I'd still go down the road of localised targeted publicity, e.g. arranging with Metro to place ads in timetable cases on every YT route, especially the 233 (I'm sure they wouldn't object as it's like a service change), holding outdoor roadshows in village halls so people passing can ask questions, a bit like what Dewsbury Bus Museum recently did in the Bull Ring, and the tried and trusted ram it down your face bright and breezy stand out a mile all singing all dancing leaflet drop! You can't beat a bright leaflet for grabbing attention. YT have done Transdev no favors what so ever with how shoddy they've become over recent years, the result of which has been mass passenger loses even in normal times, Transdev could do with every inch of publicity in all avenues (digital, print, physical roadshow etc) they can muster to turn it around, especially starting from now as I'm sure they'd want to ditch any bad impression from before the start date so people from day one clamor on board in big numbers. Maybe they should go with the tag line 'We've killed off Yorkshire Tiger, enjoy the change on us, Team Pennine' for all publicity material. Metro aren't currently visiting most timetable cases. Why should Transdev go to all that effort before the improvements are visible? Surely it makes more sense to tell customers when they take over and then publicise more widely once they're offering a better product. What questions are you expecting people to ask? Initially, nothing will be changing but the name. By the time most people see changes to their buses and perhaps the timetables, they'll have had the opportunity to advertise inside the buses for some time without a huge cost. If they advertise widely now and people try this new company and aren't impressed because they're not yet any different to Tiger they may not try them again for years.
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joseph
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Post by joseph on Jul 4, 2021 9:41:48 GMT 1
Deerfold, marketing demands major effort so they should go to major effort if they want improved passenger loading results straight from the off, can't honestly see why any company wouldn't want and demand this. I'd be expecting a major difference from day one to be honest, clean vehicles for a start, a major uplift in customer service from drivers and so on. Yes they're using the same vehicles, but a simple few words attached to all publicity explaining this should do more than nicely to satisfy this issue. They're hitting the ground sprinting with the 233, it's NOT going to look anything like shoddy YT so they should be shouting this from the rooftops to all those living on the 233.
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Post by deerfold on Jul 4, 2021 11:20:24 GMT 1
Deerfold, marketing demands major effort so they should go to major effort if they want improved passenger loading results straight from the off, can't honestly see why any company wouldn't want and demand this. I'd be expecting a major difference from day one to be honest, clean vehicles for a start, a major uplift in customer service from drivers and so on. Yes they're using the same vehicles, but a simple few words attached to all publicity explaining this should do more than nicely to satisfy this issue. They're hitting the ground sprinting with the 233, it's NOT going to look anything like shoddy YT so they should be shouting this from the rooftops to all those living on the 233. They won't want the new customers from day 1 - as I've already said, most of their improvements won't be seen by then, so you're more likely to put people off if you're shouting about benefits you haven't provided yet. You clearly disagree, though I don't understand why. What major improvements will there be from day 1? One group of routes will have new buses and they'll have new uniforms. There will have been no new driver training, most routes will still have the old buses. Get some new buses in, improve diver training standards and then, yes, they should promote it massively - and people will try their buses and hopefully be impressed - I'm not against promoting the services, just waiting until you're sure your improvements have bedded in. I realise I'm just repeating my previous points, but you don't seem to have addressed them, so unless you do, I'll give up.
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Post by jdodger08 on Jul 4, 2021 11:27:00 GMT 1
Well they've announced now that the 233 is to become D1 with some morning time changes. From 25 July, there’ll be a new look and better buses for Denby Dale, Clayton West & Skelmanthorpe into Huddersfield… Yorkshire Tiger 233 becomes #DenbyDarts D1. There will be minor time changes of a morning but other times, fares & routes stay the same. More news this week. t.co/JnS75YV65j
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Post by jdodger08 on Jul 4, 2021 11:33:13 GMT 1
And I have to agree with deerfold. There's no use in spending lots of money on an advertising campaign when on day 1 only a handful of routes will be up to the new spec that Transdev envisage for the network.
I think good old word of mouth on a route by route basis is the best option for now until the rest of the fleet are up to the same standards.
I can imagine someone's grandma saying to their children or to their friends, 'ooh have you been on them new busses, the drivers are so friendly...'
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Post by deerfold on Jul 4, 2021 11:42:42 GMT 1
Well they've announced now that the 233 is to become D1 with some morning time changes. From 25 July, there’ll be a new look and better buses for Denby Dale, Clayton West & Skelmanthorpe into Huddersfield… Yorkshire Tiger 233 becomes #DenbyDarts D1. There will be minor time changes of a morning but other times, fares & routes stay the same. More news this week. t.co/JnS75YV65jHopefully there will be some advertising of that change.
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Post by deerfold on Jul 4, 2021 11:43:43 GMT 1
First few timetables for Team Pennine showing on bustimes.org. Only services added so far are the 20, 21, 22, 83, 83A and 84A. Start date listed is 25th July. bustimes.org/operators/team-pennineThe Sunday-only 587 has slipped onto this list, too.
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joseph
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Post by joseph on Jul 4, 2021 12:49:58 GMT 1
Well the publicity machine has already started thanks to me, I found a couple of community groups in the local area and have simply messaged them details of the new company and change to the 233, simple, quick and cheap, surely somebody from the marketing team can do something as simple as this. A roadshow isn't going to cost a fortune, you just simply use salaried staff so no increase in wages needed, all that needs paying out is the fuel, and surely they have a standard publicity tent somewhere at Transdev, and any good marketing team should be able to do quality looking but cheap leaflets in house at a fraction of the price of going to a printers. And what's wrong with the old fashoned method of bodies on the ground at Huddersfield bus station telling passengers waiting for Tiger services of this change, no need to pay extra if you use salaried staff, a few managers and some of the salaried marketing staff spending a few days at Huddersfield bus station won't cost the earth. Oh and before someone pipes up and bleats out 'they may not want to do this if they have to put off other work to do in their own time' tough, their job only ends when the task is done, that's the beauty of salaried.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jul 4, 2021 13:39:26 GMT 1
I'm sure all what you want to happen will happen once they take over
Bear in mind all local staff currently work for Arriva, so wouldn't be able to man a roadshow, unless you'd just want a load of management from Harrogate to run it, which might not be very good for staff relations
Also its quite likely neither the buses nor the leaflets actually exist yet
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Post by leeds rider on Jul 4, 2021 13:48:08 GMT 1
TBH I would not expect leaflet drops and/or other local publicity to start much more than 2 weeks before the change, and extra bodies on the ground not before they've actually taken over and can say "look at what we're doing" (with the evidence to point to) rather than the weaker "look at what we're going to do".
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Post by SCH117X on Jul 4, 2021 19:43:06 GMT 1
Based on what Transdev have done elsewhere the D1 destination displays for the first week or so will have a "The new number for the 233" on them and is a change of colour really going to confuse - what about all over advert buses, do passengers not get on them? At the end of the day on what matters is that the destination display is clear.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2021 19:52:38 GMT 1
Based on what Transdev have done elsewhere the D1 destination displays for the first week or so will have a "The new number for the 233" on them and is a change of colour really going to confuse - what about all over advert buses, do passengers not get on them? At the end of the day on what matters is that the destination display is clear. Change of colour of the bus wont confuse passengers as people still get on tiger buses when its an arriva livered blue bus like the arriva tempos or the 2 darts they have on loan from Arriva atm. Passengers couldn't care less what type of bus it is or the colour of the bus as long it turns up.
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Post by leedsbusman on Jul 4, 2021 20:43:58 GMT 1
Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Denby Darts - like other Transdev brands will have a launch, a leaflet, door to door distribution and plenty of other activities in the week up to the launch. They do much more than most.
District and parish engagement is underway - as shown here
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Post by nic on Jul 4, 2021 21:44:56 GMT 1
I think we should trust the Transdev team in what they are doing. They know what to do, having previously taken over Rosso, transitioning from one brand into another. And it appears some engagement with parish councils.
As echoed previously - I agree with deerfold. Marketing is pointless. It's a bit like MP's campaigning for our votes. No proof in the pudding but a lot of "look what we can offer". With bus services people want to see proof first and that is how you get numbers. Buses themselves, looking smart in a new livery along with branding etc, is marketing in its self.
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i901
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Post by i901 on Jul 4, 2021 22:28:15 GMT 1
You were saying Transdev should do publicity. Presumably that's the responsibility of Arriva. I'm sure Transdev will do plenty of publicity, but they won't want to be blamed for anything that happens before they take over. Eh, now I'm really confused, why on earth would Arriva want to publicise this new Transdev venture? Transdev need to get the publicity machine running now so they can hit the ground running and get big loads from day one, all good and well doing it on Twitter, but I very much doubt those on the 233 even know YT are being taken over by Transdev, never mind knowing about the Twitter account and new buses. Because Arriva have (voluntarily) sold the business to Transdev. As such Arriva have an obligation as the current owner of the Tiger business to ensure a smooth handover for their customers, and that includes publicising the change of owner.
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i901
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Post by i901 on Jul 4, 2021 22:35:30 GMT 1
Well the publicity machine has already started thanks to me, I found a couple of community groups in the local area and have simply messaged them details of the new company and change to the 233, simple, quick and cheap, surely somebody from the marketing team can do something as simple as this. A roadshow isn't going to cost a fortune, you just simply use salaried staff so no increase in wages needed, all that needs paying out is the fuel, and surely they have a standard publicity tent somewhere at Transdev, and any good marketing team should be able to do quality looking but cheap leaflets in house at a fraction of the price of going to a printers. And what's wrong with the old fashoned method of bodies on the ground at Huddersfield bus station telling passengers waiting for Tiger services of this change, no need to pay extra if you use salaried staff, a few managers and some of the salaried marketing staff spending a few days at Huddersfield bus station won't cost the earth. Oh and before someone pipes up and bleats out 'they may not want to do this if they have to put off other work to do in their own time' tough, their job only ends when the task is done, that's the beauty of salaried. There's still 3 weeks until Transdev take over. The only publicity that they need to be doing at this stage is the general "fluffy" stuff (we're the new owners, we're gonna paint the buses a different colour, we've got big plans etc etc" and they are doing that already. They also need to communicate any specific changes which are happening from day one (such as the 233 becoming the D1 with some minor am timetable changes) and again they are doing that. Anything that won't change on day 1 doesn't need promoting yet.
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Post by Bradford Traveller on Jul 5, 2021 7:46:14 GMT 1
Wondered how long it would be before route number changes to the Blazefield numbering system for local bus Services (eg D1). Any other candidates for renumbering?
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Post by stephen01 on Jul 5, 2021 7:59:16 GMT 1
Wondered how long it would be before route number changes to the Blazefield numbering system for local bus Services (eg D1). Any other candidates for renumbering? Can see 83/83a/84/84a joining the Denby Dart bracket. Other than that i'm not sure for Kirklees side but have seen it on Social Media for the 435/436/436a/437/437a been named Summer Wine Line. I'd say all the Calderdale services may get renumbered again but who knows.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jul 5, 2021 15:41:01 GMT 1
They can't renumber the calderdale services with C's as they'd be confused with school services
Of course the 20/21/22 get new numbers every other week so they are well over due another change!
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Post by deerfold on Jul 5, 2021 15:45:30 GMT 1
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Post by deerfold on Jul 5, 2021 15:46:17 GMT 1
They can't renumber the calderdale services with C's as they'd be confused with school services Of course the 20/21/22 get new numbers every other week so they are well over due another change! They could. It might be a bad idea, but no-one's stopping them.
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Post by Bradford Traveller on Jul 5, 2021 16:39:16 GMT 1
They can't renumber the calderdale services with C's as they'd be confused with school services Of course the 20/21/22 get new numbers every other week so they are well over due another change! Keighley area has B for Brontë buses and B52 etc school buses. P is used for school buses before you ask
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Post by deerfold on Jul 5, 2021 17:57:32 GMT 1
They can't renumber the calderdale services with C's as they'd be confused with school services Of course the 20/21/22 get new numbers every other week so they are well over due another change! Perhaps H for Halifax? CK for Calderdale and Kirklees? H for Huddersfield?
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Post by stephen01 on Jul 5, 2021 18:13:17 GMT 1
They can't renumber the calderdale services with C's as they'd be confused with school services Of course the 20/21/22 get new numbers every other week so they are well over due another change! Perhaps H for Halifax? CK for Calderdale and Kirklees? H for Huddersfield? H is already in use in Huddersfield area for the Holmfirth Locals run by Stotts.
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Jul 5, 2021 19:00:33 GMT 1
E is used by South Pennine for Elland local services
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