Atomic Systems

Saying that Southeastern (but then it could be Network Rail) have put new signals between dover and faversham (more signals including one at Aylesham where there wasn't one before!), although the main signage (i.e. Station names are fairly similar for SWT, Southern and Southeastern now, well dark blue for SWT and Southeastern, dark green for Southern)

Hmm,

From what I remember of the "transforming Britain's stations" report (or whatever it was called), a dark blue background with white writing and no other graphics were supposed to be being rolled out across the entire network.

Station Signage

To ensure network consistency and reduced franchise costs, all signage should be in standard ‘Brunel’ script with white letters on a dark blue background. Thereafter, name signs should not be changed when train company ownership changes.

Large pictograms are to be encouraged to avoid multi-lingual signing and excessive wording. The Network Rail Architect has issued Design Guides for both Managed and Franchised station signing which should be expanded and included in Franchise Agreements. Any ownership branding should be on a strip immediately below station name signs.

The MK4's were due a repaint so it needed doing, and would have been done in NXEC if they hadn't handed the keys in. The livery is intentionally plain so the next operator can easily change the livery without a full repaint. As for dirt white/silver/cream does dirty easily but most EC sets are washed every night anyway.

So will the HSTs end up like this as well?

If the HST sets are due for a repaint, I would say yes.

Hopefully not as the HSTS are in the old NXEC livery that was applied a few years ago, would be a bit costly to do it again so soon.

I like the colour contrast between the deep purple of the logo and the silver coach.

But aside from that it is fairly ordinary.

Talking of the repaints there may actually be an east coast 390 running at some point!, although with east coast livery is another question, but apparently according to railway eye... one of Virgins new ordered pendolinos may be working the 1 a day Glasgow - Kings Cross service, but then again its probably just another rumour... (although I think that a 390 would look good in the east coast livery though!)

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... -lino.html

Personally I would take anything from that site with a pinch of salt - most of the content appears to either be politically biased rumours rather than anything that is actually factual.

An update to that one!

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... -lino.html

As far as I know the 390 will be a temporary thing for the ECML as VWC are not allowed to enter the new units into service until 2012ish so they would just be in storage. Not sure it will happen in reality as they will have to spend a while getting route avaliability clearance etc. It would obviously only run as a standard unit with the TASS isolated so wouldn't really speed up journey times (except the far superior acceleration to HST's and far, far superior acceleration to 91's!)

And of course the lack of cab doors will mean the EC chaps get a good bit of excercise every time they need to use an SPT!