Metropol

gottago wrote:

jonathan wrote:

JAS84 wrote:I think the Discount UK brand is getting phased out. The Hull branch has closed for a refit and reopens on Friday under a new name, Bargain Buys. The sign was missing today, revealing Woolworths lettering behind it. They were the previous occupants.

Yep - http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/companies/ba ... 37.article

The branch closest to me rebranded not long after opening as Discount UK.

Looks like a sign in a Wilkos.

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the image. Aping Wilko won't negate their inferiority to B&M and Home Bargains though.

A bit of a non-story, but hasn't stopped the unions getting angry:
Abellio tell ScotRail staff to alter old uniforms

Micromanagement again to cover their f* up.

As a comparison, we've just had new uniforms forced upon us due to a change of supplier.

This September we're rebranding from blue and pink to green. Quelle surprise.

scottishtv wrote:A bit of a non-story, but hasn't stopped the unions getting angry:
Abellio tell ScotRail staff to alter old uniforms

Similar uniform adjustments were made by Thameslink when they took over from First Capital Connect and a dozen Southeastern stations in SE London/Kent last Christmas.

Alexia wrote:Micromanagement again to cover their f* up.

Oh, are they becoming just 'Great Western' instead of 'First Great Western'?

Nick Harvey wrote:

Alexia wrote:Micromanagement again to cover their f* up.

Oh, are they becoming just 'Great Western' instead of 'First Great Western'?

GWR.

They've even trademarked it. https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003064468

This is the new livery, to be seen from September 2015:


Even being used as sponsor logo for certain events
http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/polo/spon ... n-railway/

Another reason to hate Heart. They must have allowed the GWR brand to be lost.

I've got some jingles they could use!

The GWR rebrand is a very classy callback. I like it a lot.

I'm not sure why having old-branded uniforms day 1 is an issue. Former Central Trains staff wore their old uniform for years after EMT took over; something to do with staff not being consulted over their uniform.

Alexia wrote:

That's gorgeous.

Also I don't see why the union are throwing up such a fuss about uniforms, "our members will not be cutting off tags". Grow up.

WillPS wrote:The GWR rebrand is a very classy callback. I like it a lot.

I'm not sure why having old-branded uniforms day 1 is an issue. Former Central Trains staff wore their old uniform for years after EMT took over; something to do with staff not being consulted over their uniform.

I know of at least one driver on the Thames Valley who still wears his BR-issue trenchcoat.

scottishtv wrote: A bit of a non-story, but hasn't stopped the unions getting angry:

OK, clearly a cock up on Abellio's part that new uniforms weren't ready. But really, unions proclaiming 'our members will ignore this until we agree another uniform'? They've even allowed it to be done on work time! I really do wish moaning railway employees would realise how good they've actually got it (sorry Alexia). British Rail doesn't exist any more, the railway is privatised and operated by private companies. As an employee of a private company, if your employer wants you to modify your uniforms, then you modify the fucking uniforms, your employer does not need your consent, it does not need to justify anything to you or enter into any negotiations before it happens - they get whatever they want because it's their business and not yours. It might well be a stupid move, but it's their stupid move to make. Similarly stupid things which I don't agree with happen at my place of work, and at places of work up and down the country - that's the reality of working for a private company. The difference between where I work and the railway is that if I proclaimed I wasn't going to do it I'd be sacked for gross misconduct (failure to follow a reasonable management instruction - with 'reasonable' being anything that isn't against the law, as that is all an employment tribunal would consider). Those working on the railway should be grateful to work within a unionised industry and so still have a modicum of sway over the management when the vast, vast majority of the UK workface enjoys no such benefit. But that sway should be reserved for things that matter (like continuing to get you boxing day off in the face of clear public demand for trains on boxing day), not stupid things like this.

Alexia wrote:

Nick Harvey wrote:

Alexia wrote:Micromanagement again to cover their f* up.

Oh, are they becoming just 'Great Western' instead of 'First Great Western'?

GWR.

They've even trademarked it. https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003064468

This is the new livery, to be seen from September 2015:


Even being used as sponsor logo for certain events
http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/polo/spon ... n-railway/

Ooh that is pretty. Not quite sure about the disproportionality large 'W' in the logo, but the livery is gorgeous. Harks back to good old fag packet. I like some bits of dynamic lines - the shade of blue used is quite classy, but the pink doors to me have always looked tacky, and it has been around for almost 10 years now, time for a change. And the more recent budget plain blue livery that's gone onto the cascaded 150/1s (and was started to be rolled out on the 153s - I guess that will be halted now) might look nice and shiny when first done but it fades terribly leaving some very dull trains indeed rolling around.