A new national timepiece will track the passage of time on Britain’s rail network, marking 200 years since the introduction of modern rail services and current moves to unify the network.
Created by WPP brand design agency Design Bridge and Partners, the digital clock marries aesthetics and practicality with its first appearance taking the form of a 1.8m diameter disc at London Bridge Station.
Soon to be rolled out across Network Rail managed stations, including Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley, the circular motif – redolent of the railway’s iconic double-arrow created by Gerry Barney, with numerals drawn from Margaret Calvert’s Rail Alphabet 2.
Intended to be displayed on departure boards and waiting areas, the dynamic display shows both arrows separating and completing a circuit every minute, with the full double arrow pulling a victory lap every 12 hours.
Mark Wood, creative partner at Design Bridge and Partners, said: “Our partnership with Network Rail, RIBA and the Design Museum has been highly collaborative, and seeing Rail Clock come to life is immensely rewarding. Our ambition was to create a new icon of British design that creates lasting impact, and we hope Rail Clock becomes the face of time across the railway for many years to come.”
The Rail Clock is the product of an international competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Design Museum on behalf of Network Rail. It coincides with moves to establish a single public body responsible for all rail services and infrastructure.