Does route branding actually work?

Route branding identifies the routes which the Buses are meant to be operated on for example a Loop branded Enviro200 should work the Eastbourne Loop or a E40D branded for the "One" should be working the 1/1A. But sometimes they appear on other routes. That is the case down here Stagecoach put branded Buses on other routes a lot which means the branding really isn't working. 

 

 

The Pros:

 

They identify the route the Bus is meant to be on

The branding stands out using really bold colours

They hardly ever come off route (Loop, Wave 99 or Hastings Arrows)

 

 

The cons:

Some do other routes that they're not branded for

They appear off route a lot ("One" branded E40Ds)

Some shouldn't be branded for that route if they keep going on other routes

 

 

Here are some photos of Buses not on their allocated routes:

 



 

When a Loop isn't a Loop Eastbourne Loop branded 36907 (GN13 HHY) on the 3 I wanted a photo for sometime of one of these off route and finally got one!

When a Wave isn't a Wave Scania 15770 (GN61 EVT) before it looked stupid after being crashed and having a odd front light on the Eastbourne Loop

One of the Hastings Arrows Enviro200s 36489 (GN12 CKP) off route working the 98

These appear off route quite a lot Eventhough they're branded for the 1/1A Ex Tayway 73 E40D 19653 (SP60 DPV) on the 51/251/252

 Now here is a branded Bus that is actually on its allocated routes 37327 (YY15 OWR) on Hastings Arrows route 20.

Route branding works really well on Hastings Arrows Enviro200 37327 (YY15 OWR) it is seen on its allocated route the Hastings Arrows.

My conclusion:

Route branding works most of the time so route branding actually works on some Buses but not on others.

My trip to Hastings

 



After waiting until at least 14:00 because we were doing other things, I finally managed to get to the Bus Station at Hastings to take some photos of Buses after they have reversed out of their bays. I took over 30 and not even half of them were good but I'm sharing my best ones on the blog.

 

My 99 to Hastings was 15775 (GN61 EVY) and I was actually surprised that quite an few people stayed onboard all the way to Hastings from Eastbourne. After trailing around boring places I finally got what I was after Buses. I also got a photo of a Ex Stagecoach in Eastbourne Bus and one of a current Stagecoach in Eastbourne Bus. The current Stagecoach in Eastbourne Bus replaced one of the Trident ALX400s that I've got a photo of on this post.

 

 

Stagecoach in Eastbourne 15544 (GN59 EWT) filling in for 15771 on the 99 shame those blinds didn't come out

Stagecoach in Hastings Ex Magic Bus 17639 (W639 RND) on a short 98 shame the blinds didn't come out

The last MEV standing in East Sussex 17106 (V106 MEV) on the 28

Really detailed branding I really like the Hastings Arrows branding but here is 36502 (GN12 CME) on Arrows route 22A

First day in service Ex Magic Bus 17663 (V163 DFT) is seen on the Hastings Arrows

Brought in on loan for extras on the 99 last week 19059 (MX56 FSK) is seen on the Arrows

Another Double on the Arrows 17624 (V624 DJA) is seen on the 20A

Folkestones 18172 (GX54 DVP) is seen on the 100 this used to be at Eastbourne but sadly was kicked out by Scania 15544 (GN59 EWT)

According to a few enthusiasts this Trident is an attention seeker wonder why it wants to be noticed but 18165 (GX54 DVH) is seen on the 2 heading to Tenterden for connections to Ashford

Shame those blinds didn't come out again but here is 36488 (GN12 CKO) seen on the Arrows

The last Enviro200 with the old body built for Stagecoach 37327 (YY15 OWR) is seen on the Arrows

 After about half an hour photographing Buses it was time to go back to Eastbourne wish I got longer oh well never mind I got some decent photos in that short space of time.

An year since the first 60 reg entered service

 



It's nearly coming up to an year since the first Ex Tayway Enviro400s entered service time does fly by so fast! I remember they entered service still in Tayway 73 branding or were looking sorry for themselves by looking really scruffy. Earlier this year the whole batch were branded for the 1 to convert the 1/1A to Double Deck operation but have appeared off route quite an bit allowing some of the Single Deckers onto the routes. This post focuses on the first batch (19648/9, 19650/1/2/3). Don't want to make this really wordy as I want to focus on the main post.

 

The first one I ever saw in service 19648 (SP60 DTF) seen on the 1A in the late winter sunshine

This is another of the first ones that entered service 19649 (SP60 DTK) also seen in the late winter sun on the 1

Later on in the year 19650 (SP60 DTN) is seen in the Summer sun appearing on the Eastbourne Loop this first entered service still in Tayway 73 branding.

19651 (SP60 DPO) is seen last month on an really rare working and I sadly didn't get the blinds in.

The first one I went on in service and it still had Tayway 73 branding when it first entered service 19652 (SP60 DPU) seen on the 1A.

 The last photo shows 19653 off route making an appearance on the 51/251/252 recently as the photo was taken earlier this week.

They are known to appear off route quite an bit and this one first entered service rather scruffy and was still partly branded I can remember 19653 (SP60 DPV) seen on the 51/251/252

An really smart looking Open - Top Trident

 



Not much going on in the Bus scene this week but I would like to bring something an bit different to do with Open - Top Tridents with 17528/9 full Open - Toppers in an special livery for an new Open - Top route in East Kent. I thought I would turn to the Seaford and District Open - Top Trident with it retaining its front windows Fleet Number TA6 SFZ 767 (V306 KGW) was brought for the Eastbourne tours earlier this year, and has been converted into an Open - Topper with an conversion to Single Door layout as this Bus started life in London. Seaford and District have another Open - Topper this time partial Open - Topper TA9 (V309 KGW) which has also been converted to Single Door Layout and has been made DDA compliment but I'm focusing on TA6 for this post.

 

As with all the Buses they have for the tours TA6 is very smart and impressive. This time Seaford and District have kept the livery the same as on their other Buses but they have had branding applied matching the livery to show that they are for ESS. Also additions have included the British flag and some seagulls being applied.

 

Now onto the pictures:

 

 

TA6 loads for another round on the tours while 819 waits in the wings

My best photo so far of TA6 sees it departing the pier on another tour

 What are my impressions on TA6? Well it looks good and stands out and looks in good condition outside for it's age. I think it's really smart and an exceptional standard of finish as well which makes it look fantastic. It may have some problems and has had to be covered on the tours before due to the problems. Back on the good side it's an ALX400 bodied Trident and it looks like it's watching you.

After getting really hot Trident 819 replaced TA6 so TA6 could cool down the boot lid and side flap were all open and
I thought it had broken down but the manager said it was getting hot.

 



An couple days of Singles on the 51/251/252 and 51/55/54 whilst Doubles worked the Loop over them few days.

 

How often do Buses swap routes due to certain circumstances? Last week on Wednesday 6th July and Thursday 7th July 2016 due to low trees on the 51/251/252 route Doubles weren't allowed on the 51/251/252 and 51/55/54 and whilst they were being cut the 51/251/252 and 51/55/54 could only be operated by Single - Deckers over the 2 days. This was due to some of the Doubles getting damaged by the low trees.

 

Meanwhile the Singles swapped onto the 51/251/252 and 51/55/54 on the scheduled Double - Decker workings. Whilst for the Doubles loads appeared on the Eastbourne Loop filling in for most of the routes allocation of Enviro200s whilst they were doing the 51/251/252 and 51/55/54. One day there was 7 Double - Deckers on the Loop joined by 3 Enviro200s whilst on the other day the Loops allocation for the day was almost fully Double - Decker apart from one Enviro200 which worked the route. One side was 100% Double whilst on the other side it was 80% Double the other 20% being the Enviro200.

 

 

Photos Double - Deck Eastbourne Loops:

 

Enviro400 19049 (MX56 FRU) filling in for an Enviro200 on the Loop on the Wednesday

Scania Enviro400 15546 (GN59 EWV) filling in for an Enviro200 on the Loop also on the Wednesday (This is the best one out of all the GN59s in Sussex)

Route branding doesn't work sometimes as the Enviro400s branded for the 1/1A appear on other routes quite an bit demonstrated by 19650 (SP60 DTN) appearing on the Eastbourne Loop filling in for an Enviro200.

 Photos Single - Deck 51/251/252s and 51/55/54s: 

One of the Enviro200s mainly found on the Eastbourne Loop 36898 (GN13 HHO) filling in for an Double on the 51/251/252 on the Wednesday.

Loop Bus off route! Enviro200 Eastbourne Loop branded Enviro200 36906 (GN13 HHX) appearing on the 51/251/252 on the Thursday this working is actually meant to be an Single Decker (Scania Enviro300).

Normal for the 51/251/252 but however on the Wednesday Scania Enviro300 28606 (GN61 EVK) appearing on the 55 on the 51/55/54 working that is scheduled to be an Double - Decker.

On Friday the 8th of July the Doubles were allowed on the 51/251/252 again and 51/55/54 whilst the Enviro200s allocated to the Loop started appearing on the route again. I really enjoyed all those Doubles as that got me off the Enviro200s for an short period of time.

More Scanias for Eastbourne and latest repaints of some of the Eastbourne fleet

 



Would of done this sooner but needed some more photos. Since I last posted sometime ago I was given updates that people helped me with. Eastbourne is becoming an hot spot for Scanias as towards the end of last month the last Tridents went and more Scanias came from Herne Bay after being displaced by Scania MMCs. This batch included two 09 reg and four 59 reg that are 15506/6 and 15543/4/5/6 (GN09 BDE/F and GN59 EWS/T/U/V). GN09 BDE/F both sound really horrible so now Eastbourne have some of the worst Scanias in the South East. However the 59 reg batch are good eventhough I've only been on 2 of them.

 

 

Now onto the photos of the Scanias:

 

Horrible 15505 (GN09 BDE) working the Loop on one of it's first days in service

Horrid sister 15506 (GN09 BDF) on the 1

15543 (GN59 EWS) working the 56 in it's first week of service

15544 (GN59 EWT) on the 51/251/252 on one of its first days in service

15545 (GN59 EWU) on it's first week of service on the 1A

Had to wait nearly an few weeks for an decent photo but here is 15546 (GN59 EWV) working the Wave 99 to Silverhill whilst similar Wave 99 branded 15771 (GN61 EVU) worked the 56

 Most of the photos of the Scanias were taken in their first week of service.

Latest Repaints:
There have been some recent repaints which have included debranding an Enviro200 to modified liveries on some of the Scania Enviro300s. Since I last published Enviro200 36903 (GN13 HHU), Dart 34492 (KV53 NHJ) and Scania Enviro300 28609 (GN61 EVP) all received new coats of paint. Some were pointless but one was for an specific reason. 28609 and 34492 were both only repainted last year and have received another repaint. 36903 was taken out off its Loop branding in favour for standard livery but retains branding inside though.

Now onto photos:

Fresh from the paintshop 36903 (GN13 HHU) on its first day in service after repaint

28609 (GN61 EVP) on its first day back in service after repaint. Note that the black from around the windows was removed in favour for it's modified livery but it retains the full blue on the front.



The latest News in the South and South East

Sorry that I haven't been writing posts recently it's just that I ran out of ideas I can now bring you the latest South and South East news.



Stagecoach South East:
Quite a few to note. The last 60 reg Enviro400s have now been branded for the "One" This was delayed because I didn't have any decent photos of one but I have now. Other notes to note is the most recent repaints. Some of the Tridents have had a repaint before transfer and also other repaints have been done on Enviro400 19019 (MX06 XAU) and Scania Enviro300 28608 (GN61 EVM). 28608 has been repainted with more white around the windows replacing the black and has gained a white bit inbetween the front lights like 28606 (GN61 EVK).

Away from the repaints Eastbournes and Hastings recently transferred Ex Breeze Scania Enviro400s have all entered service. Other transfers include more Magic Bus Tridents including one at Hastings with the original seat cushions. That is 17639 (W639 RND) which was transferred from Dover with Enviro400 19016 (MX06 XAR) going the other way and Similar 17627 (W627 RND) from Thanet. Also other transfers to Hastings were Super Pointer Dart 33176 and Solo 47174 both from Ashford and Folkestone.

Recently transferred to Hastings from Thanet 15500 (GN09 BCU) seen on the Wave 99

Stagecoach in Eastbourne 19650 (SP60 DTN) showing off it's one branding

Recently transferred Magic Bus Trident 17639 (W639 RND) resting after completing the 98

Recently transferred to Eastbourne from Thanet is Ex Breeze Scania Enviro400 15503 (GN09 BCY) on the 56

 Brighton&Hove:
A few things have happened here the former Route 1 Geminis are all being repainted into the new Regency branding. As they are getting Dual Door StreetDecks to replace them. Also the last weekend in April saw the 13X start running on Saturdays as well as Sundays. Also B9TL 487 (BJ63 UJR) has received an all over green ad for Home Sense.

B9TL 487 (BJ63 UJR) seen on the Coaster in its all over ad for Home Sense

Route 6 branded B9TL 402 (BJ11 XHB) on the 13X

Compass Bus:
Not much to report for Compass Bus but they have acquired some Ex Arriva London Pulsar Geminis to replace their Tridents. The Geminis are registered LJ05 BNK and LJ05 GLV. Also Compass have got 2 new Enviro200s registered  SN16 OGS and SN16 OCV that have replaced some Solos that were sold and were replaced by the Enviro200s noted above.