Consultation on liveries

Having spent a couple of days away from home recently, I have noticed just how dull and uninspiring some liveries are on heavily used passenger services.

The recent refurbishment of Southeastern’s Class 375s has actually improved them no end, with a smart and practical dark blue with lighter blue doors. However, on Govia Thameslink Railway, customers are subjected to a plain and insipid pale grey with blue doors. Even the logos don’t do anything to inspire.

It seems that the new ‘345s’ may do slightly better with their purple, but the loss of yellow ends in any form also makes them less attractive. How is black acceptable on a driving end? The new ‘717s’ are the dullest train livery ever!

I think that Stagecoach at least had its liveries right, with bright colours and effective accents around doorways. Having seen a South Western Railway Class 450 yesterday, the new livery is overly complex, yet still dull. Southern and GWR have some colour, and offer a touch of retro from the past of those operators. TPE has gone overboard, however, with its multi-coloured livery - totally mismatched to the shape of any train!

Perhaps operators ought to go out to public consultation when having new liveries designed, so that the travelling public can share their views and hopefully end up with something attractive and eye-catching.

Jeremy Kennett, Canterbury