Plymouth Citybus has recently been repainting its coaches out of the previous blue liveries into plain white. These are now receiving their branding so we can get a look at the end result.
Coach 326 BF63ZRX is first to break out with the new look.
© Jason Beverley
It makes a lot of sense to use the Go South West brand now that they operate under several different divisions across the area and I must admit I quite like the livery, although I know some think it quite bland. Three of these Caetano coaches have gone to the Dartline fleet, – although it remains to be seen if they also get Go South West names – or Dartline.
It doesn't make sense at all too many different brands. I get the feeling Go Ahead would kill off the Citybus name is they could.
ReplyDeletebut GA could kill off the Citybus name - but why would they? Unlike Stagecoach who seem to want to kill off any local branding at all, GA - and these days even First Group seem to realise the value of local names. With a small coach fleet it makes sense to keep them under GSW brand.
DeletePart of the agreement to buy Citybus also stated they must keep the name, not 100% sure if this had a time limit but as Graham has said, the local brand does have value, even if they've made it so GCB/PCB/GCB brands can be easily interchanged as needed
DeleteIt’s pretty bland and uninspiring isn’t it. Much like the PCB livery (all versions currently on the fleet). I’m not sure I really buy in to ‘the better the livery the more people will be attracted to travel by bus’ belief, I’m certain that turning up on time, being clean and being reliable play far more important a part than the painting on a bus. But when you’ve other cities and operators with attractive liveries, virtually all seemingly a Stenning design with a diagonal block of colour, it is disappointing that our city’s buses are so bland.
ReplyDeleteNot the norm for GAG either really, with plenty of other divisions with attractive liveries.
Contrasting that to a coach operator though, I would say that an eye catching and appealing livery is more important to coach ops, where they are privately hired and presumably reliant on being seen to know it exists.
I think it's smart, could more have been done with the arrow? Yes, could more be done with the back portion of the coach, yes there is plenty of real estate there, I just don't think Citybus have the funds or willpower to think outside the box and go for something different. It does show though, a willingness to change operations to a GSW branding though.
DeleteWorst company ever, Tamar coaches are the best
ReplyDeleteAwful
ReplyDeleteSaw 3 coaches in this livery in Cornwall today, 2 out with the advertising wagon and another on its own
ReplyDelete