Atomic Systems

....Sort of

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

looks familiar!

Tbh, nothing much has noticablly changed at the mo apart from the signs at all ex - nxec stations now have the east coast logo on them and so far i've seen 1 hst rebreanded. Paint hasn't changed - logo has.

From what was said in an interview on the BBC with the new head of the ECML, he said little would change visually, just the branding, they would be focusing on improving overall performances.

and to be honest, do we want them doing a major rebrand with our money?
Simply put the new logos on as and when the trains need a bit of a refurb - obviously taking of the National Express does possibly need to be done sooner.

I would advocate leaving the livery "as-is" (probably with the NXEC version though) and simply stick new vinyls over for the TOC logo. When it get's refranchised in a couple of years time, they can do the same - keep the livery, but new vinyls - similar to the situation whereby all ScotRail trains are getting a ScotRail livery and will retain it should the franchise pass from First Group.

Considering how long it takes to paint train fleets, let alone the cost, they arn't going to be doing anything more than a few changes to vinyls, which is fairly cheap (compared to painting) and very quick (with enough skilled staff it really takes no time at all). I image we'll just see NXEC and GNER livery with East Coast branding, until the new franchise arrives, which will be about 18 months. Really, since 18 months will take us to mid 2011, by which time the HSTs will only have a couple of years left, it's likely the HSTs will remain in NX colours until the end (should be around 2014).

And on a related note
http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx ... =151079003
Looks like NX will be out of the rail market in a couple of years time.

And the Thameside franchise comes up for renewal anyway in 2011 although i would be happy for NX to keep c2c for reasons i've already stated elsewhere.

Cheers

PT

Sorry, get me up to speed, National Express no longer run the ECML?
What happened?

National Express refused to fund NXEC any more money - they couldn't keep up the repayments to DfT - the franchise was stripped.