Northern Rail

[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.