New Logo for Northern Trains LTD

[QueensCurve]

NT is to have a new logo. same n in the purple circle but the 'northern' part in a rounded upper case font (VAG Rounded I believe)

Thing that makes me cringe is that Shant Grapps inserted the word "trains".

 

[Mollman]

That was suppose to be the case already!

At least in this case it's just the logos they need to change, rather than the whole colour scheme.

Except the livery could do with a bit of treatment, the current one looks a bit half hearted, especially on non-driving coaches.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Except the livery could do with a bit of treatment, the current one looks a bit half hearted, especially on non-driving coaches.

I disliked it to start with but found it was very much a grower, I actually like it now, particularly on the CAF units (was it specifically designed for those then adapted for other units perhaps?)

A CAF unit in the new livery with the "audio branding" (the friendly sounding Northern autoannouncer on board) is all in all quite an attractive, local-feeling branding package.

 

[py_megapixel]

I disliked it to start with but found it was very much a grower, I actually like it now, particularly on the CAF units (was it specifically designed for those then adapted for other units perhaps?)

A CAF unit in the new livery with the "audio branding" (the friendly sounding Northern autoannouncer on board) is all in all quite an attractive, local-feeling branding package.

I feel the same; the livery has grown on me.

The main thing I don't like about is that it's inconsistent, for example on 156s, 158s, 170s and 333s the first doors on the driving vehicles are white, while on 150s, 319s, 323s and Civities they are blue. I understand that on a 156 you couldn't fit the "swoosh" before the door, and on a 158 you probably could but it would look silly, but what about the 170s and 333s? Also there's a few units around where the shade of blue doesn't quite match - why?

I'd actually prefer it if the livery was reversed: blue with white swoosh and doors.

 

[Stigy]

I always found the current/previous branding a bit of a fail really....the ‘n’ looks like a sad face....As branding goes, I’d say that’s a psychological no no.

 

[omnicity4659]

Also there's a few units around where the shade of blue doesn't quite match - why?

The livery was updated in late-2017/early-2018 to match the new Arriva brand. Northern updated their blue to "Arriva Dark Blue" and the smaller logos within it to "Arriva Purple", "Arriva Yellow" and "Arriva Blue". Because of that, trains which were already painted simply got the vinyls updated, hence the mismatch of blue.

 

[aiden_g1]

The livery was updated in late-2017/early-2018 to match the new Arriva brand. Northern updated their blue to "Arriva Dark Blue" and the smaller logos within it to "Arriva Purple", "Arriva Yellow" and "Arriva Blue". Because of that, trains which were already painted simply got the vinyls updated, hence the mismatch of blue.

With that in mind, i wonder if the coloured "n" logo spots on the cab ends of the trains will be dropped too. Going for an all over simple blue and white livery. It would look much smarter.

 

[omnicity4659]

I'm currently sat at a distance from the staff member, but I think I've just spotted the new logo on their blue social distancing high vis...

 

[johntea]

I forgot to take a picture but will try to remember to take one next week, the ‘new’ logo is set up on their recently installed ‘tap and go’ terminal screens on the Harrogate line, it looked horrendous!

And that was on a screen no larger than a phone screen...

 

[scrapy]

Just to add there is more to the logo change than just capitalisation with the 'n' logo going to subtly change over time particularly on media screens and tvms.

The artwork I've seen looks good and will fade between the current dark blue and a more silvery colour.

This may find its way onto printed media and posters over time as these are changed but is unlikely to incur extra cost and won't be used on signage or train livery. This was probably part of the £26,000 paid out.

 

[py_megapixel]

will fade between the current dark blue and a more silvery colour.

That sounds lovely. I can imagine a royal blue livery with a silver stripe - nice and classy. (I know that probably isn't what the plan is by the way)

 

[johntea]

Northern 'Flexi-season tickets'

I searched for a thread on this, but couldn't find one - so if I've missed one, apologies! Northern are trialling 'flexi-season' tickets between Harrogate and Leeds, starting from 14/07. More details at: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/flexi A Flexi-Season ticket is a bulk purchase of 10...

www.railforums.co.uk

skyhigh has kindly provided a photo of one of the validators with the logo, for some reason to me 'NORTHERN' in uppercase feels less 'friendly' than 'northern' in lowercase!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Northern 'Flexi-season tickets'

I searched for a thread on this, but couldn't find one - so if I've missed one, apologies! Northern are trialling 'flexi-season' tickets between Harrogate and Leeds, starting from 14/07. More details at: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/flexi A Flexi-Season ticket is a bulk purchase of 10...

www.railforums.co.uk

skyhigh has kindly provided a photo of one of the validators with the logo, for some reason to me 'NORTHERN' in uppercase feels less 'friendly' than 'northern' in lowercase!

They really need to lose the "sadface", to be honest. To be fair it partly looks rubbish because whoever implemented it has squashed it vertically.

 

[py_megapixel]

Northern 'Flexi-season tickets'

I searched for a thread on this, but couldn't find one - so if I've missed one, apologies! Northern are trialling 'flexi-season' tickets between Harrogate and Leeds, starting from 14/07. More details at: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/flexi A Flexi-Season ticket is a bulk purchase of 10...

www.railforums.co.uk

skyhigh has kindly provided a photo of one of the validators with the logo, for some reason to me 'NORTHERN' in uppercase feels less 'friendly' than 'northern' in lowercase!

You'll also notice that the logo is not scaled properly, causing it to appear stretched and distorted.

Of all the current TOC brands, this one probably reflects the relevant TOC the best - in that it's half-***ed and cheap-feeling.

 

[HarryL]

Just joined the forum but have been a lurker for a while, decided to throw another concept into the mix here as the new logo is awful. Mines a mix between the old Northern Spirit/Rail design and the Arriva version.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That looks quite good.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Just joined the forum but have been a lurker for a while, decided to throw another concept into the mix here as the new logo is awful. Mines a mix between the old Northern Spirit/Rail design and the Arriva version.

View attachment 83531

I like the 'N' but I dont like the upper case.

 

[pdeaves]

Is there any public online site where one can see the new logo, yet? I can only imagine it based on what people have written.

 

[scrapy]

There does seem to be a feeling in Northern that the logo has to be some form of N, whereas it generally doesn't seem to be the case at the majority of other TOCs that the logo has to be based on the initial letter.

 

[Domh245]

There does seem to be a feeling in Northern that the logo has to be some form of N, whereas it generally doesn't seem to be the case at the majority of other TOCs that the logo has to be based on the initial letter.

Going through the list of TOCs:

Abellio Scotrail: Stylised Saltaire
Avanti: Stylised letter A
c2c: none/name
Caledonian Sleeper: Stylised stag
Chiltern: none/name
Cross Country: Stylised X (from abbreviation XC)
EMR: Abbreviation
GTR
{Great Northern: flying triangle
{Thameslink: none/name
{Southern: roundel
{Gatwick Express: Abbreviation
Grand Central: Winged circle with abbreviation
Greater Anglia: none (hare for local lines)
GWR: Abbreviation
Heathrow Express: Stylised X
Hull Trains: Heart
LNER: Abbreviation (/Stylised N)
London Overground: Roundel
Merseyrail: M in a circle
Northern: n in a circle
SouthEastern: Abbreviation
SWR: stylised network map
TfL Rail/Elizabeth Line: Roundel
TPE: 'pole star'
TfW: Stylised T
West Midlands Trains:
{LNWR: Stylised W
{WMR: Diamonds (Transport for West Midlands standard pattern)

In most cases () the 'logo' is either non-existent, or an abbreviation of a name too long to be condensed nicely. In northern's case, the abbreviation does just become N of course

A lot of the name disconnected designs (where they haven't just stylised the name/a letter in it) have got existing heritage or an obvious source: Scotrail, Southern, LO, TfL Rail, & WMR. It's only Caledonian Sleeper, Hull Trains, SWR, TPE (and possibly GN's triangle) that are real 'independent' logos. Notably most of them are also intercity operators where the branding is all the more important - quite what name-disconnected logo you choose to do for a mediocre commuter operation I don't know!

 

[syorksdeano]

Northern wanted to use a picture of a customer using a pacer, but the nearest they could find was this famous painting

 

[Bletchleyite]

Heathrow Express: Stylised X

It's meant to be a compass, I think, associating it with long haul travel.

 

[SteveM70]

Abellio Scotrail: Stylised Saltaire

You mean like this?



Sorry. I’ll get my flat cap

(Saltire)

 

[JaJaWa]

It's meant to be a compass, I think, associating it with long haul travel.

It’s the X from Heathrow eXpress stylised to look like a car badge (it’s basically identical to Mercedes Benz’s bevelled version).

 

[Rhydgaled]

Just joined the forum but have been a lurker for a while, decided to throw another concept into the mix here as the new logo is awful. Mines a mix between the old Northern Spirit/Rail design and the Arriva version.

View attachment 83531

I quite like that, but it still has the problem that the original logo has, ie. the N is repeated in the name 'northern' to the right of the circle. I think the N in the circle might look better if it was part of the name.

 

[Mollman]

You mean like this?

View attachment 83554

Sorry. I’ll get my flat cap

(Saltire)

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[tpjm]

For me, I’d say stop calling it “Northern” and stop using the N as a stylised logo-mark!

 

[peters]

For me, I’d say stop calling it “Northern” and stop using the N as a stylised logo-mark!

What about the logo saying NO TRAINS, they could roll it out at stations on the Rose Hill Marple line first.

 

[Andy Pacer]

What about the logo saying NO TRAINS, they could roll it out at stations on the Rose Hill Marple line first.

They'd get into trouble for fake advertising!

 

[js1000]

Just joined the forum but have been a lurker for a while, decided to throw another concept into the mix here as the new logo is awful. Mines a mix between the old Northern Spirit/Rail design and the Arriva version.

View attachment 83531

Very dated if I'm honest.

I don't mind the Northern font, logo and colour scheme since Arriva. It's simple and clear. There's no comparison when you compare it with the old Northern with that god-awful, gaudy purple they had.