Stations rebranded to Great British Railways design / Rail Alphabet 2 & 3

[TT-ONR-NRN]

While I think the arrows are hideous I'd encourage anyone who wonders how good RA2 signage could look to go and have a look at what has been done at Birmingham New St, which has a unique white on black variant on most directional signage. It really does look superb. It's the 1970s BR-era black on white (which quickly shows dirt) that is what makes it look so utterly awful.

Birmingham New Street's black signage is just fantastic.

 

[jon0844]

That actually looks really smart.

Yes, I prefer these to the other signs. I wonder if the 'new' Greater Thameslink Railway will continue with these given they're not adopting the new GB Rail liveries and colours yet?

 

[Transilien]

I definitely encourage it. It's insanity the DfT would have spent money on such a generic RA2. They could have chosen the generic Frutiger font many airports use if they wanted to be nondescript and they would've saved a ton of money. If you pay for branding, you want something like SBB, ÖBB, DB, SNCF, something sharp with simple subtle colours and shapes that are memorable.

There’s always a font that has all of these things owned by the railway, Rail Alphabet One. They should have just used that instead in my opinion.

 

[HarryL]

There’s always a font that has all of these things owned by the railway, Rail Alphabet One. They should have just used that instead in my opinion.

Rail Alphabet wasn't designed for digital use, it's been somewhat dodgily converted at points but never properly. It has issues when you start putting it on screens that would require recreating it from scratch anyway.

The later digital version, New Rail Alphabet was also tried when they were creating the new guidelines but they found it (ironically) wasn't designed for signage and didn't perform well in testing. So a new typeface that could handle both was required.

I imagine part of it was that they also wanted a typeface they fully own rather than one they have to licence for extortionate amounts.

 

[GoneSouth]

Rail Alphabet wasn't designed for digital use, it's been somewhat dodgily converted at points but never properly. It has issues when you start putting it on screens that would require recreating it from scratch anyway.

The later digital version, New Rail Alphabet was also tried when they were creating the new guidelines but they found it (ironically) wasn't designed for signage and didn't perform well in testing. So a new typeface that could handle both was required.

I imagine part of it was that they also wanted a typeface they fully own rather than one they have to licence for extortionate amounts.

Is a requirement of a fully digital compliant typeface to be unreadable because it’s so thin and lightweight

 

[Recessio]

Rail Alphabet wasn't designed for digital use, it's been somewhat dodgily converted at points but never properly. It has issues when you start putting it on screens that would require recreating it from scratch anyway.

The later digital version, New Rail Alphabet was also tried when they were creating the new guidelines but they found it (ironically) wasn't designed for signage and didn't perform well in testing. So a new typeface that could handle both was required.

I imagine part of it was that they also wanted a typeface they fully own rather than one they have to licence for extortionate amounts.

Who owned the Rail Alphabet and New Rail Alphabet? I always assumed (at least for original RA) that it was a BR property and ultimately ended up in the government's ownership?

 

[sh24]

RA2 isn't amazing, but so much better than the horror shown at Enfield Chase.

 

[Via Bank]

Hey, at least the outside sign with the backlit double arrow is RA2. That’s quite smart.

Everything else: no. Just no.

 

[nlogax]

Is a requirement of a fully digital compliant typeface to be unreadable because it’s so thin and lightweight

Having now used multiple stations where RA2 has been *cough* deployed I find my opinion moving in this direction. RA2 looks wonderful in clean, clutter-free renders but its use in the real world demonstrates obvious shortcomings. In environments with complex upright structures or against substantial station infrastructure RA2 signage all but disappears. Yellow on black exit signs of course work well, but something bolder is needed for every other element.

And no, I'm definitely not advocating for the return of OG RA either. There's a time and place for old BR nostalgia, but this isn't it.

 

[D6130]

Having now used multiple stations where RA2 has been *cough* deployed I find my opinion moving in this direction. RA2 looks wonderful in clean, clutter-free renders but its use in the real world demonstrates obvious shortcomings. In environments with complex upright structures or against substantial station infrastructure RA2 signage all but disappears. Yellow on black exit signs of course work well, but something bolder is needed for every other element.

And no, I'm definitely not advocating for the return of OG RA either. There's a time and place for old BR nostalgia, but this isn't it.

There's plenty of BR nostalgia on the new signage....the red double arrow logo seems to be on almost everything RA2. In BR RA1 days it was only ever used on station entrance canopies and roadside pole-mounted signs.

 

[nlogax]

There's plenty of BR nostalgia on the new signage....the red double arrow logo seems to be on almost everything RA2. In BR RA1 days it was only ever used on station entrance canopies and roadside pole-mounted signs.

Keeping the arrows was a no-brainer, they always have and always will work. I personally don't mind seeing them on platform signage. RA2 is so lightweight it's actually useful to include the arrows so you can find the damned signs.

The arrows would also work extremely well with a different typeface.

 

[GoneSouth]

Keeping the arrows was a no-brainer, they always have and always will work. I personally don't mind seeing them on platform signage. RA2 is so lightweight it's actually useful to include the arrows so you can find the damned signs.

The arrows would also work extremely well with a different typeface.

Oh I completely agree, the red BR arrows are the only thing that grabs attention, the rest of the sign just disappears into nothing, it’s terrible.

I guess me pontificating on here isn’t going to get that changed though.

 

[nlogax]

I guess me pontificating on here isn’t going to get that changed though.

Hah, same here. The design and rollout of a new identity for the GBR era feels like a missed opportunity and it's too late for anything major to happen to fix things.

 

[StephenHunter]

Seen at West Ham today. There was a similar signing for a hearing induction loop at Upminster.

(Is my alt text OK?)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

View attachment 201263

Seen at West Ham today. There was a similar signing for a hearing induction loop at Upminster.

(Is my alt text OK?)

There’s no Rail Alphabet 2 there.
The heading is in Rail Alphabet and the smaller text in Helvetica.

 

[jon0844]

There’s no Rail Alphabet 2 there.
The heading is in Rail Alphabet and the smaller text in Helvetica.

There also needs to be a border around the edge. I bet there are places you can stand and look at the sign with it blending in with the background, not standing out at all.

 

[StephenHunter]

There also needs to be a border around the edge. I bet there are places you can stand and look at the sign with it blending in with the background, not standing out at all.

Not without standing on the track, I'd say.

 

[Leyland Bus]

After the "Olivia Deansgate" saga, I went through Deansgate Station (Manchester) this morning to see the sign fairies had been back and the boards were now in RA2 with red double arrow and yellow 'Hexabee' Bee Network logos...

 

[janb]

Planning application for Lancaster signage update including the detailed design report. https://planning.lancaster.gov.uk/o...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TE5T6SIZL4L00 (Application number 26/00437/LB if that link doesn't work)

 

[Leyland Bus]

Planning application for Lancaster signage update including the detailed design report. https://planning.lancaster.gov.uk/o...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TE5T6SIZL4L00 (Application number 26/00437/LB if that link doesn't work)

Oh and a lozenge outside, nice!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh and a lozenge outside, nice!!

It seems to be one of the least worst RA2 implementations I've seen (maybe they had to think about it more given that the listed status meant planning was needed?) - but it still isn't good.

 

[Leyland Bus]

It seems to be one of the least worst RA2 implementations I've seen (maybe they had to think about it more given that the listed status meant planning was needed?) - but it still isn't good.

The implementation of it all has been so haphazard its ridiculous... barely any consistancy and little attention paid to the Wayfinding Manuals. It really needs a guiding mind to help do this properly...

I do think you're right about the listed status leading to more careful planning though...

 

[rmHawk765]

Came across this at Enfield Chase yesterday which I haven’t seen before

I knew something was off about those double arrows!

Even if it is seemingly rudimentary, it's nice to see the old FCC signage finally being replaced. Arguably not the thing GTR needs to focus on but it does look very nice, I will agree.

 

[Ant158]

Noticed today some of the platform signs at Manchester Victoria now have the northern ‘n’ logo on the right hand side instead of the expected Bee network logo.

 

[Hadders]

I knew something was off about those double arrows!

Even if it is seemingly rudimentary, it's nice to see the old FCC signage finally being replaced. Arguably not the thing GTR needs to focus on but it does look very nice, I will agree.

I think the double arrows signage was late WAGN-era rather than FCC.

 

[urbophile]

Noticed today some of the platform signs at Manchester Victoria now have the northern ‘n’ logo on the right hand side instead of the expected Bee network logo.

I thought we were finally getting rid of these competing train companies. What's the betting that they will rebrand it all again in a year or so?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Noticed today some of the platform signs at Manchester Victoria now have the northern ‘n’ logo on the right hand side instead of the expected Bee network logo.

So that means they've put a sticker over a cover patch, over a sticker?! Sounds about right really!

I never understood why the Hexabee was covered over in the first place as they are visible on the new signage recently fitted at Deansgate...

 

[rmHawk765]

I think the double arrows signage was late WAGN-era rather than FCC.

I was referencing the station name signposts on the platform and whatnot mostly, but interesting to hear this.

 

[JaJaWa]

Opening date announced for first Great British Railways-branded station at Cambridge South

Opening date announced for first Great British Railways-branded station at Cambridge South

ANGLIA
CAMBRIDGE
LIFE SCIENCES

Monday 11 May 2026 at 12:12pm



Drone images show progress at Cambridge South station ahead of its opening next month

The first Great British Railways-branded station will open next month, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

The Cambridge South station, serving Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest medical research facility, will open on 28 June and is expected to be used by 1.8 million passengers per year.

It will receive up to nine trains an hour from Cambridge, as well as direct services to stations such as London King’s Cross, London Liverpool Street, Birmingham New Street, Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport.

Services will be operated by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, and CrossCountry.

The project was primarily funding by a £250m government investment and received a total of £5m in contributions from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, and the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership.

The station has a so-called green roof, featuring solar panels and a rainwater catchment system involving a wildflower meadow environment.

A drone image of Cambridge South station, showing off its green roof with grass growing on it
The station building has a green roof, on which plants grow.
Credit: DfT
The DfT said Cambridge South would be “the first new Great British Railways (GBR) branded station".

GBR is an upcoming public sector body that will oversee Britain’s railways.

Research conducted at Cambridge Biomedical Campus addresses some of the most pressing global healthcare challenges, including developing techniques for spotting cancer early and understanding dementia.

The campus generates £4.7bn each year for the UK economy, which is expected to rise to £18.2bn by 2050, alongside a doubling of its 20,000 employees.

Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Cambridge South will open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the biomedical campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country.

“As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver."

These included "faster connections supporting economic growth, thousands more jobs and homes, and a railway that works for the communities it serves," he added.

Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake said: “Cambridge South station will significantly improve travel and connectivity for campus staff, visitors and the wider community for many years to come.

“Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work that is being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility.”

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/202...-first-great-british-railways-branded-station

 

[vuzzeho]

Opening date announced for first Great British Railways-branded station at Cambridge South



https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/202...-first-great-british-railways-branded-station

Does that mean it'll just have the new RA2 signage, or will it actually say 'GBR' anywhere? Either way, it's exciting.

Funnily enough, neither Kings Cross nor St Pancras Low Level (two stations it'll get a lot of services from) are GBR branded in the slightest.