Northern Rail

[chris-s]

RE: Northern Rail
So do we think a Hy-Brid name like arriva northern will appear.

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail
No, the brand will be Northern. This is the DfT's intention for newly let franchises to reduce the need for change between franchise operators (Serco-Abellio to Arriva in this instance). Similarly, what has been First Transpennine Express will become just Transpennine Express with the change in operator from First-Keolis to just First.

With regards liveries, it's expected that there will be a different scheme for standard and Northern Connect services with the previously posted link of an artist impression 331, being more likely to be similar to the Connect livery. That said, it is a very standard DfT base livery so may bare no relevance to planned liveries at all. Expect the blue base to be kept but the purple to disappear across the brand but particularly the livery for standard services from what I've heard.

Either way, don't expect to see any real changes to liveries before the new stock starts arriving or before units go for a full refurbishment as Arriva will want any new image to coincide with stock which passengers can perceive as being significantly improved.

[chris-s]

RE: Northern Rail

(26/03/2016 19:28)CX54 DKD Wrote:  No, the brand will be Northern. This is the DfT's intention for newly let franchises to reduce the need for change between franchise operators (Serco-Abellio to Arriva in this instance). Similarly, what has been First Transpennine Express will become just Transpennine Express with the change in operator from First-Keolis to just First.

With regards liveries, it's expected that there will be a different scheme for standard and Northern Connect services with the previously posted link of an artist impression 331, being more likely to be similar to the Connect livery. That said, it is a very standard DfT base livery so may bare no relevance to planned liveries at all. Expect the blue base to be kept but the purple to disappear across the brand but particularly the livery for standard services from what I've heard.

Either way, don't expect to see any real changes to liveries before the new stock starts arriving or before units go for a full refurbishment as Arriva will want any new image to coincide with stock which passengers can perceive as being significantly improved.

Thanks for the detailed info DKD. Still a little confused but to be honest don't take much

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail
No worries, I'll try and explain a little more...

The DfT (Department for Transport) want to try and reduce confusion for passengers who may not be clued up on the fact that the railway is a franchised operation by creating consistent brands for each franchise (i.e. Northern, Transpennine, Southern etc.). The idea is that, regardless of who actually runs the franchise (so that's Serco-Abellio for the current Northern Rail and Arriva for the new Northern), the names on the trains etc. stay the same. They're also aiming for a consistent livery for each franchise which changes less frequently too. It's all about making the change of franchise as seamless as possible. This is something which already happens in Scotland with ScotRail.

Despite this, the option they did give in the ITT (Invitation to Tender) for the Northern franchise was just that the name of the franchise should contain the word Northern or North so a little flexibility still in some cases. I'm not sure what the stipulation was in the ITT for Transpennine but that will just be known as Transpennine Express.

[motormayhem1]

RE: Northern Rail
Should just stay northern and underneath it say operated by which ever company is operating it so on this occasion it would make sense to have NORTHERN and under it operated by arriva and TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS an uder it operated by first with there own unique franchise branding which would stay with the franchise no matter which company was running it.

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern Rail

(26/03/2016 19:28)CX54 DKD Wrote:  Either way, don't expect to see any real changes to liveries before the new stock starts arriving or before units go for a full refurbishment as Arriva will want any new image to coincide with stock which passengers can perceive as being significantly improved.

Arriva are apparently going to put some supermarket style use by dates on some of the 142s to highlight the franchise commitment to replace them.

TPE will unveil their new livery on one of the 185s on Friday but it will be the only TPE unit that will get the new livery for now, the other 185s they are keeping will get it when they get refurbished.

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern Rail

(27/03/2016 08:51)motormayhem1 Wrote:  Should just stay northern and underneath it say operated by which ever company is operating it so on this occasion it would make sense to have NORTHERN and under it operated by arriva and TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS an uder it operated by first with there own unique franchise branding which would stay with the franchise no matter which company was running it.

The current 'Northern Rail' logo and branding is the property of Serco/Abellio. Apparently they tried to sell it to Arriva but Arriva decided to get a new 'Northern' logo designed, which will become the property of Rail North. Considering Serco/Abellio's franchise agreement states all logos must be removed from trains and stations before the franchise end date I think they were trying to get out of doing it and make some money in the process but it didn't pay off.

[wirralbus]

RE: Northern Rail

(27/03/2016 12:31)knutstransport Wrote:  Arriva are apparently going to put some supermarket style use by dates on some of the 142s to highlight the franchise commitment to replace them.

TPE will unveil their new livery on one of the 185s on Friday but it will be the only TPE unit that will get the new livery for now, the other 185s they are keeping will get it when they get refurbished.

Lets just hope if they do that to the 142's then the replacement come in on time , otherwise it could be an embarrassing to them .

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern Rail

(27/03/2016 12:37)wirralbus Wrote:  Lets just hope if they do that to the 142's then the replacement come in on time , otherwise it could be an embarrassing to them .

I imagine they'll put the final planned 142 withdrawal date and then if it gets delayed the units with it on will be in the first batch to go

[motormayhem1]

RE: Northern Rail
Thats why the government should name the franchise which would stay with that franchise with its own franchise livery then the operating company just stick there name under it so at least the livery and name stay the same just the operators name changes just like tfgm have done with the hybrid buses round greater manchester