Network Rail has unveiled the first redesign of the railway’s national clock design in over 50 years at London Bridge station.
The timepiece was designed by WPP agency Design Bridge and Partners, and was chosen from a list of more than 100 entrants in an international design competition run in a partnership between Network Rail, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Design Museum.
Design Bridge and Partners’ piece was chosen due to its potential to work as both a physical and digital timepiece, reflecting the design and brand history of the railway whilst providing a clear indication of the current time in a busy station.
The rail clock, which stands as a 1.8 physical structure at London Bridge, will also appear in digital form on departure boards across the rail network, launching at a number of other Network Rail-managed stations today including London Waterloo, London Victoria and London Charing Cross.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, said:British ingenuity and passion are the foundations of the railway, from the very first passenger service 200 years ago to the millions of rail journeys now taken every day. This clock represents a bridge between the historic past and a new future for our railways.
As part of our Plan for Change, this Government will create an integrated railway network that’s more reliable, consistent, efficient and accountable, thus delivering growth, jobs and homes. Good design, like this brilliant, clever timepiece, is a fundamental part of achieving this.
The design was developed with advice from a number of accessibility experts and uses easy-to-read numbers in an amended version of the railway’s own typeface, Rail Alphabet 2.
Each 60 seconds sees the signature railway double arrow logo split and travel around the rim of the clock. Both Margaret Calvert, designer of Rail Alphabet, and Gerry Barney, creator of the double arrow logo, were consulted in the clock’s creation.
