Wright – THE BEAUTY OF TRANSP{ORT – A CHANGE OF COURSE 2025

Description

Network Rail published Wayfinding design manual version 3 (Dec 2024), updating the 2021 standards to improve station signage legibility and consistency. Developed with Nick Job, Weston Williamson + Partners, Maynard and Merson Group, the revision tweaks arrow design (heavier and with a longer shaft than v1 but not as thick as BR’s), permits arrow placement to match direction except on totem signs, and shifts vertical alignment to x‑height for better visual balance. It reduces overuse of the double‑arrow (keeping it only on the first running‑in platform sign), mandates Rail Alphabet 2 and Rail Symbol 2, changes platform suffixes to lowercase, replaces black ‘Way out’ panels with white patches, brightens accessibility pictogram blue, and refines several icons. Although Network Rail can enforce the standard only at stations it operates, many train operators have adopted parts inconsistently; v3 aims to address those deviations and is freely available. Broader uptake may hinge on enforcement and future Great British Railways branding decisions.