Rail franchises shunt rebranding plans along

THE GOVERNMENT’S railway privatisation scheme continues to bear fruit as more newly franchised operations undergo rebranding exercises.

The South Eastern Train Company was last week bought by Connex Rail, a subsidiary of French conglomerate CGEA.

It is likely that the identity will be looked at by CGI, which is currently reviewing branding issues for Network South East, another CGEA-owned franchise, says a Connex spokeswoman.

Any rebranding of South Eastern will include the new rolling stock which Connex Rail has promised to introduce to replace South Eastern’s existing slam door fleet.

National Express-owned Midland Mainline is currently trialling its livery by Saatchi & Saatchi Design, and a final decision on interiors is due shortly. Design work should be on show in a couple of weeks, says a National Express spokesman. Stagecoach is currently in the throes of buying rolling stock leasing operator Porterbrook. No decision has yet been made on an identity change.

And Gloucestershire group Mosaique Design has created a new corporate identity for York-based Fastline, the former British Rail track maintenance company. The identity is currently being implemented on to literature and will be used for exhibitions.