First Great Western rebrands to Great Western Railway and related department changes

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, that's the plan.   As posted on here 166206 has joined 204 with the new livery, and I believe that one has also had seat covers changed to green as well.

166 205 is also green & has had the inside done as well from what I've been told.

Yes, apologies, I got 206 and 205 mixed up.

[Adelante_CCT]

Seems to be stuck at Laira Jn. according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website)...

Is now on route, and I will assume simply not have its 45 minute wait in Theale Loop

[47714]

Yes, that's the plan.   As posted on here 166206 has joined 204 with the new livery, and I believe that one has also had seat covers changed to green as well.

166 205 is also green & has had the inside done as well from what I've been told.

Yes, apologies, I got 206 and 205 mixed up.

206 should of come back yesterday(Saturday) in green.

[Adelante_CCT]

Along with the sleeper and an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) side by side tomorrow morning, I believe that there will be 2xturbo poss in pl 4?...all in gwr green

Well RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) does have the two turbos together (ex Oxford and ex OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot))), which is not normally the case forming the 07:12 semi-fast to Reading, although this is down for P5.

[Brucey]

It's a brand new era for rail travel in the west.

Really?  That just sounds like corporate mumbo jumbo to me.

Call me a sceptic, but it's the same franchisee (well, parent company, the actualy limited company operating the franchise is different) with the same management team.  I hardly think a lick of paint will solve all the problems that passengers (especially commuters) have been facing on an almost daily basis for the last few years.

[brizzlechris]

A rather bold claim on the new GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website too...

[brizzlechris]

Call me a sceptic, but it's the same franchisee (well, parent company, the actualy limited company operating the franchise is different) with the same management team.

Is it a different company?

The GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) terms and conditions page (https://www.gwr.com/terms-and-conditions) gives reference to Great Western Rail Limited but no such company appears to exist at Companies House (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/search?q=great+western+rail+limited)

The GWR privacy policy page (https://www.gwr.com/privacy-policy) gives what appears to be a mistaken reference to a different unconnected company - Great Western Railway Limited which does exist at Companies House (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01759457), incorporated in 1983 and with no obvious links to First Group.

The GWR offers terms and condition page (https://www.gwr.com/offers-terms-and-conditions) gives reference to Great Western Railway alongside company number 05113733 which Companies House tells us is First Greater Western Limited (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05113733)

Glad that's all clear...! 

I also now apprently need to give notice to GWR that I've linked to their website. Their Ts & Cs state:

If you provide hyperlinks to this site, you agree that you:
...
- shall inform Great Western Rail in writing of the link

Must dash, I've a letter to write!

[ChrisB]

So it's a Trading As name then?

First Greater Western T/A Great Western Railway. Just about legal then

[Brucey]

So it's a Trading As name then?

First Greater Western T/A Great Western Railway. Just about legal then

It seems unclear whether it is a trading name or whether they have applied to change the name at Companies House.  Either way, the website references a company name that does not exist.

As an aside, shame they have not got hold of the gwr.co.uk, greatwesternrailway.co.uk and greatwesternrailway.com domain names.

[PhilWakely]

Very smart - shame the 'wraps' have come off the leading power car!   

I presume the 3D block GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) logo on the power cars will not be applied to the entire fleet?

[Adelante_CCT]

Here is a video of the new coaches passing through Reading West this evening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y-dV1TojNU

I have to admit I wasn't thrilled with the dark green originally but having seen the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) it is growing on me.


... Nice pictures by the way Phil!

[Timmer]

Indeed, great pictures Phil. I like the new green livery. Never liked the dynamic lines which now look very dated.

I like this whole rebranding exercise to coincide with the launch of the 'new' franchise. However, as I said on another thread, I think it will be lost on a lot GW^▸ (Great Western) passengers with the way things are at the moment.

[JayMac]

I saw a rake of green coaches from afar on Saturday.

[grahame]

I saw a rake of green coaches from afar on Saturday.

Ah - I knew I'd seen the colour before .. I was brought up on the Southern.  Corfe Castle?

[PhilWakely]

I saw a rake of green coaches from afar on Saturday.

Shame about the livery of the 'D65er'