marketing and branding

[Old Blarney]

I started to consider how the initials of former railway companies might possible be revived, and made use of in 2015. Two companies immediately sprang to mind, the Great Northern (GN) and the Great Southern (GS). The appropriate route for this hypothetical Marketing and Branding exercise would, in my opinion be the line from Dublin to Belfast.

 

Going North.

 

The side of the northbound train (Down direction of travel) could be painted in the Blue and Cream colours of the former Great Northern Railway, each carriage, the locomotive and driving trailer should also be emblazoned with large letters - GN.

 

Coming South.

 

The side of the southbound train (Up Direction of travel) could be painted in either, Brown and Cream or alternatively Lake as per the former Great Southern colours. Again each carriage, locomotive and driving trailer should be emblazoned with large letters - GS.

 

The marketing and branding exercise is this. Historical names of two of Irelands' railways are revived and justified as follows;-

 

GN - Going North

GS - Going South

 

The clear identification provided on either side of the train should assist the two Irish Tourist Boards to market railway travel on this route. Americans, in particular can be instructed to look for the initials GN when Going North to Northern Ireland. When returning South, Going South, look for the initials GS.

 

Were this plan to be acted upon, perhaps then, the Enterprise Service could regain the identity it once had! My proposed colour scheme should be consistent, purposeful, historic, and reintroduce the initials used by two great Irish Railway undertakings.

 

Oh, there is at least one major flaw in this idea. The platforms used at the respective termini will need to allow the correct stabling of the train for the return journey otherwise, the incorrect initials will be viewed by the train passengers.

 

Ramblings of an elderly lunatic.