344:
112:
419:
231:. While Transport has since been an enduring success on road signs, it was designed around the specific needs of road users – such as visibility at speed and in all weathers. The subsequent creation of Rail Alphabet was intended to provide a style of lettering more specifically suited to stations where it would primarily be viewed indoors by pedestrians.
29:
495:
In 2020, Network Rail announced that it had commissioned an updated version of the typeface. Designed by
Margaret Calvert and Henrik Kubel, Rail Alphabet 2 includes lighter versions of the lettering as well as italics for signage along with accompanying versions for use in printed matter and online.
402:
In 2009, a newly digitised version of the typeface was publicly released. Created by Henrik Kubel of A2/SW/HK in close collaboration with
Margaret Calvert, New Rail Alphabet features six weights: off white, white, light, medium, bold and black, with non-aligning numerals, corresponding italics and a
859:
504:, the updated Rail Alphabet 2 typeface will replace Brunel for all signage on all Network Rail managed major stations on the network. Network Rail will also begin using the typeface for corporate communications.
359:
in
England, Scotland and Wales adopted Rail Alphabet for its signs. It is still the dominant typeface used on signs in older hospitals. It ceased to be used in new builds in the late 1990s. NHS England now uses
313:. Meanwhile, Helvetica Medium has replaced Rail Alphabet as the industry's preferred typeface for safety notices within passenger trains due to the ready availability of the former and for consistency with
289:
who now manage individual stations choosing to use the typefaces associated with their own corporate identities for station signs and publicity. More recently, the custom Brunel typeface introduced by
261:
with use of Rail
Alphabet declining as a consequence. The typeface remained in near-universal use for signs at railway stations but began to be replaced with alternatives in other areas, such as in
250:, and the total adoption of Rail Alphabet for all lettering other than printed matter including station signage, trackside signs, fixed notices, signs inside trains and train liveries.
586:
870:
676:
1114:
742:
496:
The redesign also includes new pictograms to depict services and facilities which did not exist in the 1960s when the original typeface was conceived – such as
257:
ships until that company's privatisation in the late 1980s. However, by the end of the 1980s, British Rail's various business units were developing their own
1109:
778:
523:– the basis for display lettering, including signs, used by British Railways between 1948 and 1965. Genuine Gill Sans was used for printed matter.
239:
1015:
511:(GBR) will introduce Rail Alphabet 2 on the rail network, replacing the many different typefaces used on railway signage since privatisation.
816:
717:
253:
Key elements of the rebranding were still being used during much of the 1980s and Rail
Alphabet was also used as part of the livery of
155:(DRU) as part of their comprehensive 1965 rebranding of the company. It was later used by other public bodies in the United Kingdom.
786:
593:
536:
302:
912:
1044:
1099:
684:
282:
192:
The typeface was designed specifically for signage and the designers included features to support this such as a bespoke
1104:
335:
The use of the typeface is also still prescribed by standards for trackside warning signs and safety/operating notices.
753:
116:
895:
328:
also making extensive use of Rail
Alphabet for signage until the firm's rebranding to Great Western Railway in 2015.
343:
1119:
501:
372:
243:
167:
632:
436:
262:
258:
224:
148:
77:
48:
356:
286:
285:
from 1994 accelerated the decline in use of the typeface on the railway network with most of the privatised
81:
508:
163:
85:
1094:
376:
348:
212:
decided on standard types of signs to be used at all stations. Lettering was to use redrawn versions of
791:
661:
497:
310:
235:
228:
186:
152:
526:
380:
361:
355:
Rail
Alphabet was used by certain other state-owned corporations and organisations in the UK. The
325:
321:
270:
266:
301:
was recommended as a new national standard for station signs by a 2009 report commissioned by the
723:
530:
386:
507:
In May 2021, as part of the
Williams Rail Review, it was announced that the new government body
556:
994:
314:
306:
209:
728:
220:
216:
lettering on a background of the regional colour. This style persisted for nearly 15 years.
182:
140:
698:
193:
1088:
943:
561:
320:
Some train operators continued use of Rail
Alphabet long into the privatisation era.
841:
111:
1020:
466:
365:
294:
247:
144:
136:
72:
920:
610:
454:
60:
677:"On Line Typeface (Rail Alphabet typeface, Margaret Calvert/Jock Kinneir, UK)"
447:
443:
329:
185:, which had earlier provided the same designers the broad inspiration for the
129:
126:
53:
41:
1078:
500:
and vaping areas. In
October 2020, Network Rail announced that starting with
520:
298:
290:
213:
174:
170:
logo will also be restored as the primary brand identifier for the network.
103:
418:
28:
426:
178:
132:
36:
254:
1016:"Rail Alphabet 2 launches at exhibition celebrating 1960s design icon"
1072:
968:
342:
200:
to provide optimum visibility on both light and dark backgrounds.
177:, but with some differences in character shapes, stroke width and
110:
223:(which rebranded as British Rail in 1965) trialled new signs at
197:
324:
used the typeface until the end of the franchise in 2018, with
638:
Warminster & Westbury journal, and Wilts County Advertiser
181:
to aid legibility. The typeface also has some similarities to
587:"Great British Railways: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail"
705:. British Rail. April 1985 – via Doublearrow.co.uk.
227:
that made use of Kinneir and Calvert's recently launched
718:"Is collecting railway ephemera an archaeological task?"
189:
typeface used for road signs in the United Kingdom.
483:
475:
465:
453:
435:
425:
332:continues to use the typeface for station signage.
99:
91:
71:
59:
47:
35:
631:
1045:"Margaret Calvert exhibition and Rail Alphabet 2"
581:
579:
896:"NHS CFH visual identity guidelines, section 4"
389:used Rail Alphabet typeface for English texts.
371:Rail Alphabet was widely used on signs by the
173:Rail Alphabet is similar to a bold weight of
8:
411:
21:
633:"Railway Station Signs. Standard Lettering"
293:for signs at major stations and adapted by
1075:(includes pdf specimen and archive photos)
703:The British Rail Corporate Identity Manual
605:
603:
995:"HUB Making places for people and trains"
665:. No. 582. July 1949. p. 271.
548:
1115:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 1965
648:– via British Newspaper Archive.
410:
379:. It was also used on signage for the
20:
716:Forsythe, Robert (13 December 2000).
7:
403:set of Eastern European characters.
273:for much of their interior signage.
860:"Lineside Operational Safety Signs"
557:"Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert"
240:1965 rebranding of British Railways
162:, is planned to be used across the
1110:Neo-grotesque sans-serif typefaces
942:Walters, John L. (20 April 2009).
196:system and two slightly different
14:
867:Rail Safety & Standards Board
787:Rail Safety & Standards Board
611:"British Rail Corporate Identity"
347:Rail Alphabet used on signage at
16:Neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface
1043:Holden, Alan (29 October 2020).
594:Government of the United Kingdom
537:List of public signage typefaces
417:
303:Secretary of State for Transport
259:individual brands and identities
27:
752:. November 2009. Archived from
699:"Basic Elements: Rail alphabet"
993:Lawrence, David (2 May 2020).
869:. October 2009. Archived from
722:Institute of Railway Studies,
533:, designed by Edward Johnston.
375:and by Danish railway company
305:, and was used extensively by
1:
683:. 13 May 2015. Archived from
283:privatisation of British Rail
151:, it was then adopted by the
790:. April 2003. Archived from
659:"Standard Stations Signs".
117:Castle Cary railway station
1136:
373:British Airports Authority
267:Mark 4 passenger carriages
842:"Liverpool South Parkway"
416:
317:on general safety signs.
287:train operating companies
242:included a new logo (the
26:
817:"Making Rail Accessible"
750:Department for Transport
529:– the lettering used by
393:Digitisation and updates
149:Liverpool Street station
115:Rail Alphabet in use at
78:Department for Transport
1081:of Rail Alphabet in use
743:"Better trail stations"
681:The Beauty of Transport
357:National Health Service
147:network. First used at
82:BRB (Residuary) Limited
640:. England. 20 May 1949
509:Great British Railways
498:gender neutral toilets
352:
164:Great British Railways
158:A redesigned version,
119:
86:British Railways Board
973:Newrailalphabet.co.uk
349:Frederiksberg Station
346:
114:
1100:Government typefaces
913:"Corporate Identity"
779:"Research Programme"
662:The Railway Magazine
311:East Midlands Trains
246:), a shortened name
236:Design Research Unit
219:In the early 1960s,
166:network, whilst the
153:Design Research Unit
1105:Corporate typefaces
969:"New Rail Alphabet"
821:Arriva Trains Wales
759:on 22 November 2009
731:on 25 January 2006.
413:
381:National Coal Board
326:First Great Western
322:Arriva Trains Wales
143:for signage on the
23:
1073:Commercial release
1004:– via Issuu.
724:University of York
531:London Underground
387:Road signs in Iran
353:
277:After British Rail
269:which made use of
229:Transport typeface
120:
1120:Display typefaces
1024:. 26 October 2020
502:London Paddington
493:
492:
489:New Rail Alphabet
398:New Rail Alphabet
368:uses Stone Sans.
351:in Denmark, 1978.
315:British Standards
307:South West Trains
210:Railway Executive
109:
108:
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1059:
1057:
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981:
979:
965:
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939:
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928:
919:. Archived from
909:
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796:
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747:
739:
733:
732:
727:. Archived from
713:
707:
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689:
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673:
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628:
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459:Margaret Calvert
421:
414:
225:Coventry station
221:British Railways
183:Akzidenz-Grotesk
141:Margaret Calvert
67:Margaret Calvert
31:
24:
1135:
1134:
1130:
1129:
1128:
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1125:
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1085:
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999:
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992:
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987:
977:
975:
967:
966:
962:
952:
950:
944:"Rue Britanica"
941:
940:
936:
926:
924:
911:
910:
906:
898:
894:
893:
889:
879:
877:
876:on 17 July 2011
873:
862:
858:
857:
853:
840:
839:
835:
825:
823:
815:
814:
810:
800:
798:
797:on 17 July 2011
794:
781:
777:
776:
772:
762:
760:
756:
745:
741:
740:
736:
715:
714:
710:
697:
696:
692:
687:on 9 July 2018.
675:
674:
670:
658:
657:
653:
643:
641:
630:
629:
625:
615:
613:
609:
608:
601:
589:
585:
584:
577:
567:
565:
555:
554:
550:
545:
517:
488:
484:Design based on
460:
446:
442:
412:Rail Alphabet 2
409:
407:Rail Alphabet 2
400:
395:
341:
279:
206:
160:Rail Alphabet 2
100:Design based on
84:
80:
66:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1133:
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1123:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
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1097:
1087:
1086:
1083:
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1068:
1067:External links
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437:Classification
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340:
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205:
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194:letter-spacing
107:
106:
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63:
57:
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51:
49:Classification
45:
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33:
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15:
13:
10:
9:
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4:
3:
2:
1132:
1121:
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1079:Flickr photos
1077:
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923:on 1 May 2009
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582:
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562:Design Museum
558:
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549:
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538:
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532:
528:
525:
522:
519:
518:
514:
512:
510:
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487:Rail Alphabet
486:
482:
478:
476:Date released
474:
470:
468:
464:
458:
456:
452:
449:
445:
441:Neo-grotesque
440:
438:
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430:
428:
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415:
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217:
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211:
208:In 1949, the
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176:
171:
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156:
154:
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138:
134:
131:
128:
127:neo-grotesque
124:
123:Rail Alphabet
118:
113:
105:
102:
98:
94:
92:Date released
90:
87:
83:
79:
76:
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70:
64:
62:
58:
55:
54:Neo-grotesque
52:
50:
46:
43:
40:
38:
34:
30:
25:
22:Rail Alphabet
19:
1095:British Rail
1052:. Retrieved
1048:
1038:
1026:. Retrieved
1021:Network Rail
1019:
1010:
998:. Retrieved
988:
976:. Retrieved
972:
963:
951:. Retrieved
948:Eye Magazine
947:
937:
925:. Retrieved
921:the original
917:NHS Scotland
916:
907:
890:
878:. Retrieved
871:the original
866:
854:
845:
836:
824:. Retrieved
820:
811:
799:. Retrieved
792:the original
785:
773:
761:. Retrieved
754:the original
749:
737:
729:the original
721:
711:
702:
693:
685:the original
680:
671:
660:
654:
642:. Retrieved
637:
626:
614:. Retrieved
566:. Retrieved
560:
551:
506:
494:
461:Henrik Kubel
401:
385:
370:
366:NHS Scotland
354:
334:
319:
295:Network Rail
280:
252:
248:British Rail
244:double arrow
233:
218:
207:
204:British Rail
191:
172:
168:double arrow
159:
157:
145:British Rail
137:Jock Kinneir
135:designed by
122:
121:
65:Jock Kinneir
18:
1049:Rail Advent
880:19 December
644:13 February
455:Designer(s)
263:InterCity's
61:Designer(s)
1089:Categories
826:14 January
801:31 October
763:31 October
543:References
431:Sans-serif
339:Other uses
330:Merseyrail
130:sans-serif
42:Sans-serif
521:Gill Sans
299:NR Brunel
291:Railtrack
214:Gill Sans
187:Transport
175:Helvetica
104:Helvetica
927:27 April
616:4 August
527:Johnston
515:See also
448:Humanist
427:Category
364:, while
362:Frutiger
271:Frutiger
179:x-height
133:typeface
37:Category
471:A2-TYPE
467:Foundry
255:Sealink
198:weights
73:Foundry
1054:27 May
1028:15 May
1000:15 May
978:15 May
953:15 May
846:Flickr
568:1 July
899:(PDF)
874:(PDF)
863:(PDF)
795:(PDF)
782:(PDF)
757:(PDF)
746:(PDF)
590:(PDF)
444:Mixed
265:1989
125:is a
1056:2021
1030:2024
1002:2024
980:2024
955:2024
929:2009
882:2009
828:2012
803:2010
765:2010
646:2017
618:2020
570:2010
479:2020
309:and
281:The
234:The
139:and
95:1965
377:DSB
297:as
238:'s
1091::
1047:.
1018:.
971:.
946:.
915:.
865:.
844:.
819:.
784:.
748:.
720:.
701:.
679:.
636:.
602:^
592:.
578:^
559:.
383:.
1058:.
1032:.
982:.
957:.
931:.
901:.
884:.
848:.
830:.
805:.
767:.
620:.
596:.
572:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
