First Great Western rebrands to Great Western Railway and related department changes

[whole diary]

[didcotdean]

Saw the green HST^▸ (High Speed Train) yesterday and the power cars both match again 

Was a full green set towards the end of last week too; happened to be walking towards the Cow Lane bridge in Didcot when it went over.

[patch38]

Probably 150 232 - as seen on rear cover of TransWilts annual report at http://atrebatia.info/twcicannualreport2015.pdf

It was definitely a 150 so I'm sure you are right Graham.

I know we are speculating that there's only one green HST^▸ (High Speed Train) set and there are currently no plans for others to be introduced but is the multiple unit fleet gradually changing colour as it goes through the maintenance cycle? They should sneakily paint that SWT^▸ (South West Trains) loaner that's always working the Swindon routes

[BerkshireBugsy]

I travelled in from Thatcham to Pad today on what I think was the 166 which had been rebranded on the outside not the inside. Still, it looks great on the outside. So that is now 3 sets I have seen a 165, a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and the sleeper. So is the HST the only one that has an internal makeover?

[Visoflex]

Seems to be that way for the minute.  Style over substance?  Make it look different on the outside, and on the inside nothing has changed.  Symptomatic of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) rebrand perhaps?  (Oh the cynicism of one so young!)

[IndustryInsider]

One of the Turbo's has had an internal branding done as well as extendal.  Others had not long been given an internal refresh when they were repainted green, so it would have been a waste of money doing them again straight-away.  When other sets go through the ongoing disability modifications I would think that would be a good time to do the internal branding too.

[stuving]

Seems to be that way for the minute.  Style over substance?  Make it look different on the outside, and on the inside nothing has changed.  Symptomatic of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) rebrand perhaps?  (Oh the cynicism of one so young!)

It's funny, isn't it.

You do a company rebranding and get loads of stick about it being a waste of money, just marketing, a vanity project etc.

So next time you do a franchise-based (i.e. will be kept whoever wins next time) repaint, only do it on stock that will be kept in that next franchise, don't do the inside unless they need a refurb anyway ... and you get the same complaints!

[TonyK]

You're damned if you, you're damned if you don't.

[BerkshireBugsy]

You're damned if you, you're damned if you don't.

I totally agree. I do like the new livery and the re branding as a whole. Maybe it's just because I feel the old blue livery is showing it's age now. Mind you I haven't seen a "greenie" dirty yet

[TaplowGreen]

You're damned if you, you're damned if you don't.

I totally agree. I do like the new livery and the re branding as a whole. Maybe it's just because I feel the old blue livery is showing it's age now. Mind you I haven't seen a "greenie" dirty yet

I think people's cynicism works on the basis of (for example), if my beloved Plymouth Argyle spent a fortune on redecorating the stadium but put the same players in Arsenal shirts, would it make them a Premier League team?

[Tim]

I like the new brand.  The problem I have with the rebranding exercise is that it drawing on a historical name to try and create a brand which bigger than a mere here today gone tomorrow franchisee.  And yet we all know in our heart of heart that it is just as much a gimmick as any other brand and will likely not be around for very long.  If First get to renew their franchise, it may not survive the next management change.  If First loose the franchise and it goes to Stagecoach, do we ever know that they will be allowed to keep the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) brand (even if they wanted to) which is presumably the property of First. 

As I say, I like the new brand.  I'd support the rebranding exercise if it stood a chance of having some permanence, in the same way that the Scotrail brand (which is presumably owned by the Government rather than the current incumbent) has.

[chrisr_75]

If First loose the franchise and it goes to Stagecoach, do we ever know that they will be allowed to keep the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) brand (even if they wanted to) which is presumably the property of First. 

As I say, I like the new brand.  I'd support the rebranding exercise if it stood a chance of having some permanence, in the same way that the Scotrail brand (which is presumably owned by the Government rather than the current incumbent) has.

I thought this most recent rebrand (what is it, number 4 now since privatisation and the demise of the InterCity branding?) was intended to be carried through into future franchises, as you mention, in the manner of the ScotRail branding?

[TeaStew]

Hehe, just seen 150232 arrive at BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) attached to and behind a 153. GLORIOUS 

[stuving]

If First loose the franchise and it goes to Stagecoach, do we ever know that they will be allowed to keep the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) brand (even if they wanted to) which is presumably the property of First. 

As I say, I like the new brand.  I'd support the rebranding exercise if it stood a chance of having some permanence, in the same way that the Scotrail brand (which is presumably owned by the Government rather than the current incumbent) has.

I thought this most recent rebrand (what is it, number 4 now since privatisation and the demise of the InterCity branding?) was intended to be carried through into future franchises, as you mention, in the manner of the ScotRail branding?

I can't see anything in the franchise agreement that says that, bur I assume that the decals can be peeled off and internal GWR branding removed quite cheaply. What's left then is the green livery - whether that was First's sole choice or they consulted other potential franchisees I have no idea.

What is in the franchise agreement is that the cost of removing any company-specific branding falls on the outgoing franchisee. There is the option of selling the GWR brand, of course, as it is specific geographically, not to First.

[TaplowGreen]

If First loose the franchise and it goes to Stagecoach, do we ever know that they will be allowed to keep the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) brand (even if they wanted to) which is presumably the property of First. 

As I say, I like the new brand.  I'd support the rebranding exercise if it stood a chance of having some permanence, in the same way that the Scotrail brand (which is presumably owned by the Government rather than the current incumbent) has.

I thought this most recent rebrand (what is it, number 4 now since privatisation and the demise of the InterCity branding?) was intended to be carried through into future franchises, as you mention, in the manner of the ScotRail branding?

I can't see anything in the franchise agreement that says that, bur I assume that the decals can be peeled off and internal GWR branding removed quite cheaply. What's left then is the green livery - whether that was First's sole choice or they consulted other potential franchisees I have no idea.

What is in the franchise agreement is that the cost of removing any company-specific branding falls on the outgoing franchisee. There is the option of selling the GWR brand, of course, as it is specific geographically, not to First.

The change in branding to GWR was mainly driven by the toxicity of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) brand, in order to build & maintain a successful brand, you need to project a consistent level of quality, demonstrated by consistent communications, consistent products, and consistent services, the "GWR brand" will be utterly worthless (and will tarnish a great historical name) if all it produces is more of the same but painted green. It has a long, long way to go to live up to the name "Great Western Railway" with all of its proud historical connotations.

[ChrisB]

The decals come off as mentioned & new franchisee gets that colour stock going forward. They can brand that as they please