Inspiro-ing the Piccadilly Line – a look at TfL’s new trains
Transport for London (TfL) and Siemens Mobility have unveiled the detailed design of the new generation Tube trains for the Piccadilly line, which will soon be in production to replace the existing 1970s fleet. 94 new Siemens Inspiro ‘2024 Stock’ trains are due for delivery starting in 2025. The state-of-the-art Tube trains will significantly improve […]
8 books you MUST have on your bookshelf if you love transport and design
Do you know your Arial from your Helvetica, from your Rail Alphabet? If you claim to be a fan of both transport and design, there are several publications which you quite simply MUST own to validate your claim. There’s no better feeling in the world than ‘going analogue’ for an afternoon, settling into an oversized […]
A hundred years of Johnston – the iconic typeface of the London Underground
Paul Wilson, University of Leeds It’s been 100 years since the London Underground’s distinctive typeface made its first appearance. Alongside the unmistakable roundel, Johnston has helped to create some of the most recognisable signage in the world: a design which screams “London!”, no matter which language you speak. It has guided Londoners and visitors alike […]
Funding for Vivarail’s D-Train withdrawn after fire
Vivarail’s D-Train experiment has come crashing to a halt following a fire on 30 December. The experimental unit was converted from ex-London Undergound D-Stock, freshly cascaded from the District Line in the capital and refurbished to an almost-unrecognisable standard. Vivarail had completely retrofitted the unit with diesel engines to create traction current for the electric […]
The world’s greatest transport logos
The world of transport has given us some of the most amazing, iconic and unforgettable logos. Recently, we set out to accomplish the impossible and find a list of the most important, classical, historical and inspirational of them all. We asked you, our friends and followers, to nominate your favourites and to tell us your reasons […]
Siemens: inspiring the future
Siemens’ vision for the future of the Tube has been showcased at its urban development centre – The Crystal – in London. The Inspiro family is the next-generation of metro train from the German company. The full-size mock-up displayed at the Royal Victoria Docks in London is a brand new design created exclusively for the Tube […]
Harry Beck – 80 years
The late Harry Beck this week received a blue plaque on the 80th anniversary of his Tube map’s first appearance. Beck’s map, created in 1933, would set the future standard for London Tube maps (and indeed, transit maps the world over). His design, though updated over time, remains in use right up to the present […]