The first physical manifestation of the renationalised rail system has arrived in the form of a Great British Railways’ signature station clock.
The design, the first for more than 50 years, will appear in digital form on electronic information boards at stations across Britain, as well as a stand alone hanging timepiece.
The design, chosen in an international competition for architects and designers, was selected for ease of reading as well as reflecting the railways’ brand. Mark Wood, a creative partner at the winning agency, Design Bridge and Partners, said he hoped it would become “the face of time across the railway for many years to come”.
The new clock features only hours and minutes in numerals, with seconds represented by the “double arrow” of the British Rail logo – splitting in two before circling the face as if on opposing tracks, rejoining hypnotically every minute.
While the success of the clock will be measured over decades, some are already enthusiastic. Gerry Barney, who created the old British Rail logo in 1965, was approached by the clock’s designers and pronounced himself “thrilled … what [they] have created is really magic”.
It will be interesting if it is as durable as the design of the Swiss Railways Clock, see example on a station below.
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