Why so drab?

[Barbar]

This is my first post here so please go easy on me :-)

The interior carriage design of most of the QR citytrain fleet provide a number of areas (mostly near carriage doorways) set aside for the display of "poster" type passenger safety or general QR self promotional advert material. While I understand the importance of passenger safety messages, etc, unfortunately it's a plain old drab and dreary lot for the commuter to look at. 

Question: Why doesn't TransLink rent some of this display space to private companies looking to advertise products or promote events? With an overall quarterly train patronage of 13.66 million trips,I'm sure TransLink would have no difficulty finding potential buyers for this terrific advertising space?   

[ozbob]

Welcome Barbar!  Good point you raise.   

Some of us have previously raised the possibility about brightening up the exterior of trains as well.

[#Metro]

Brisbane City Council often dresses their buses up, covering the entire bus in some kind of surface film that you can't notice from the inside of the bus.

I think this could be applied to QR trains too. It would ward off Graffiti as well...

[Barbar]

Brisbane City Council often dresses their buses up, covering the entire bus in some kind of surface film that you can't notice from the inside of the bus.

I think this could be applied to QR trains too. It would ward off Graffiti as well...

yep, perhaps an excellent way to promote the Queensland Government's Commonwealth games bid?...although my idea; to rent out existing interior carriage poster display space would be more of a direct ongoing revenue raiser for TransLink, it would be great if TransLink's marketing dept had a look at such ideas....after all there is no reason why QR Passenger rail cartage kit must adhere to some sort of eastern European communist appearance.

[mufreight]

Revenue from railway advertising goes direct to QR and Translink should have no connection with it in any way.
Translink does only the bare minimum for rail viewing it as a source of revenue, paying as little as possible and taking back as much as it can grab under any pretence.
The idea as posted by Barbar has merit but Translink involvement, no way.

[#Metro]

I've noticed that the interiors of the older rollingstock has been completely refurbished and looks almost identical to the interiors of the new trains. Its quite good, though I'm sure there are a few oldies around on the network still.

IMHO there should be no carpet in a train. It just causes trouble and collects all sorts of filth...

[longboi]

I've noticed that the interiors of the older rollingstock has been completely refurbished and looks almost identical to the interiors of the new trains. Its quite good, though I'm sure there are a few oldies around on the network still.

IMHO there should be no carpet in a train. It just causes trouble and collects all sorts of filth...

The wall carpeting on the new 160/260s aren't too bad. I do agree that carpet can be annoying but plastic+metal interiors are just so sterile and dull.

Welcome to the forum btw Barbar! I fully support your idea for using advertising space as raising revenue for QR on the provision that each vestibule has at least one network map.

I can't count the number of times I have watched people have to wander the entire length of the train to find a network map. Its extremely annoying if you don't know your way around the network.

[ButFli]

Advertising is no solution to a drab interior. Advertising rots our brain. If the choice is between Eastern European style interiors and advertisement-filled interiors then I most certainly choose the former.

I have suggested on this forum before that QR should consider decorating the outside of passenger trains to discourage grafiti. A few indigenous-themed EMUs getting around like Qantas' Wunula Dreaming and Yananyi Dreaming 747's would look great. There is no reason to stop at suburbans either. A Tilt Train dressed up as the rainbow serpent would make a great advertisement for Traveltrain and the State of Queensland.

[Barbar]

ButFli  says "Advertising rots our brain".........yep I agree that can happen when advertising is over played, just look at what free-2-air TV dishes up these days, anyway, the adverts I envisage would have to hold some cultural or tourism value...e.g Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre promos,etc ... certainly not the "Drink Coke a Cola" type .....the Tilt Train dressed as the rainbow serpent?...now that's a fantastic idea  !!  ...btw this is a bit off topic but is it true the seats on the Tilt Train can't be rotated to face the direction of travel? I recently observed this apparent situation while watching passengers board at Roma St.station.

[Barbar]

Revenue from railway advertising goes direct to QR and Translink should have no connection with it in any way.
Translink does only the bare minimum for rail viewing it as a source of revenue, paying as little as possible and taking back as much as it can grab under any pretence.
The idea as posted by Barbar has merit but Translink involvement, no way.

mufreight is that QR Passenger Ltd...or some other dept, also does this apply to the station platform ad revenue?

[Barbar]

I've noticed that the interiors of the older rollingstock has been completely refurbished and looks almost identical to the interiors of the new trains. Its quite good, though I'm sure there are a few oldies around on the network still.

IMHO there should be no carpet in a train. It just causes trouble and collects all sorts of filth...

Yes, tramtrain, I also recently noted a full refurb job on an EMU carriage (can't remember the number) but the outcome was very professional....new rubber flooring at doorways, all seating fabric replaced...fresh carpet and paint ...very nice indeed...a job well done whoever did the work...is it contracted out or performed in house?

[Barbar]

I've noticed that the interiors of the older rollingstock has been completely refurbished and looks almost identical to the interiors of the new trains. Its quite good, though I'm sure there are a few oldies around on the network still.

IMHO there should be no carpet in a train. It just causes trouble and collects all sorts of filth...

The wall carpeting on the new 160/260s aren't too bad. I do agree that carpet can be annoying but plastic+metal interiors are just so sterile and dull.

Welcome to the forum btw Barbar! I fully support your idea for using advertising space as raising revenue for QR on the provision that each vestibule has at least one network map.

I can't count the number of times I have watched people have to wander the entire length of the train to find a network map. Its extremely annoying if you don't know your way around the network.

Thanks for your support nikko!   I agree safety messages and an up-to-date network map are vital passenger info. IMO wall carpeting looks good (when kept clean) and may help dampen track noise.   

[stephenk]

London Underground makes a considerable amount of money from advertising. Advertising is common on Japanese trains too. I see nothing wrong with it. However, it helps if the interior design of the train is designed for advert placement - this would require modifications to QR CityTrain interior design.

[ozbob]

Refurbishment of the Citytrains is generally done at Redbank Workshops, although some have been done at Maryborough.

[Barbar]

London Underground makes a considerable amount of money from advertising. Advertising is common on Japanese trains too. I see nothing wrong with it. However, it helps if the interior design of the train is designed for advert placement - this would require modifications to QR CityTrain interior design.

Yes stephenk I thought of that too, the current interior poster display panel has a "fixed" frame design, a mod to a "quick refill" hinged type frame is needed but I sure that job wouldn't be too complex or expensive for QR to handle given the potential funds to be made!

[Barbar]

Refurbishment of the Citytrains is generally done at Redbank Workshops, although some have been done at Maryborough.

Thanks ozbob, I'm sure the Redbank Workshop folk could handle a poster frame mod