As we head back to BR ... a new look for the logo

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I'm seeing new logo ideas on Facebook.

The old BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) one at Melksham was:


Perhaps this should be the new one:

[CyclingSid]

If it is going to be Great British Railways it presumably needs some blue in it?

[IndustryInsider]

Given that the old BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) logo survived all the way through the privatisation years, it will be rather ironic if it changed now we’re moving back towards a more ‘nationalised’ set of arrangements.

[Lee]

Given that the old BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) logo survived all the way through the privatisation years, it will be rather ironic if it changed now we’re moving back towards a more ‘nationalised’ set of arrangements.

Didnt the White Paper see the logo as central to what they are trying to acheive, and to only expect the odd "regional variation" ?

For my part, I have had my suggested GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) logo on my profile for some time now 

[Reading General]

I would vote to stick with the arrows of indecision as it is a universally accepted British symbol however, this particular government probably can’t help themselves to do a massive marketing and rebranding exercise with something probably covered in union flags, bulldogs, lions, a red phone box, a black taxi, the Palace of Westminster, tower bridge and other London based things that the world thinks is British to get across their build better British back better tag line. They would want their own mark on it even if it doesn’t make sense. In an ideal world it needs to be uncomplicated, which the arrows already are.

[Electric train]

I feel it will have a little done to it as a basic logo, there will be National difference applied and possibly Regions having a variant.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Regions will become I suspect will be the GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) Regions   

[GBM]

For my part, I have had my suggested GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) logo on my profile for some time now 

Does that indicate "Two track Melksham, NOW" 

With due apologies from the originator for perhaps misuse and abuse of their original demand

[grahame]

From The Guardian

British Rail logo designer appalled by green makeover ‘mess’

The designer of the familiar British Rail logo has warned against government plans to revamp the symbol and dismissed an attempt to give it a green makeover as a “load of old bollocks”.


The green makeover of British Rail’s double-arrow logo.
Photograph: Rail Delivery Group

[Lee]

From The Guardian

British Rail logo designer appalled by green makeover ‘mess’

The designer of the familiar British Rail logo has warned against government plans to revamp the symbol and dismissed an attempt to give it a green makeover as a “load of old bollocks”.


The green makeover of British Rail’s double-arrow logo.
Photograph: Rail Delivery Group

Now Barney is worried his logo could be used to conceal the failings of a rebranded privatised system

Perish the thought, eh? 

[Bob_Blakey]

And of course we the taxpayers would be on the hook for financing the replacement of what must be the thousands of signs which carry the original, instantly recognised, design.

WALOB indeed.

If it ain't broke don't try and fix it.

[Witham Bobby]

This has to be fake news, surely?

Take one of the most instantly recognisable corporate logos and trash it.  And while you're at it, insult the majority of people who don't need a message that rail travel produces less CO₂ per passenger mile travelled than car travel; they already know it

[Bmblbzzz]

If it's a variant to be used for a specific advertising campaign, fair enough. If it's meant to be a permanent logo for all situations, it's not good. Too many shades, not bold and cohesive enough. If they really feel a new logo is needed (but at the same time should be based on the original; hmm... ) then at least make it something instantly identifiable against various backgrounds, lighting conditions and so on.

[Red Squirrel]

This has to be fake news, surely?

Take one of the most instantly recognisable corporate logos and trash it.  And while you're at it, insult the majority of people who don't need a message that rail travel produces less CO₂ per passenger mile travelled than car travel; they already know it

I think the Guardian is manufacturing outrage here. Shapps says they want to update the logo, and the RDG^‡(resolve) have produced a version for their 'We Mean Green' campaign (see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2l8DXZNvc). I can't see anything in the story to suggest that this four-colour version is to replace the familiar red and white version.

It is probably a measure of how good Gerry Barney's original logo is that it can be adapted for campaigns without losing its brand recognition. But as others have said, the BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) logo is not bust and does not need fixing. We have far better things to spent the money on!

[stuving]

To be fair to the Guardian, they didn't really fake the news themselves - they put the bits next to each other and let people jump to the wrong conclusion for themselves. It's an old journalistic trick, and it obviously still works, given how many people (not just here) fell into the trap. The original Williams Shapps quote is:

Great British Railways will use updated versions of the classic ‘double arrow’ logo as well as the Rail Alphabet typeface, used in this document. Even after 25 years of privatisation, the logo remains the most widely-used and best-recognised symbol of the railways. It is the standard marker on road signs. It appears on most tickets, online, and at the vast majority of stations. It will stay in those places and increasingly appear on trains, uniforms and publicity material too as and when these are upgraded or replaced as a single, unifying brand for the railways. Keeping it also avoids spending money on yet another new railway logo.

So "updated versions", based on that, means updated to be used on new media, as well as new purposes such as this "green" campaign. Of course that does not rule out some GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) marketing types getting carried away in the future.

[broadgage]

If it's a variant to be used for a specific advertising campaign, fair enough. If it's meant to be a permanent logo for all situations, it's not good. Too many shades, not bold and cohesive enough. If they really feel a new logo is needed (but at the same time should be based on the original; hmm... ) then at least make it something instantly identifiable against various backgrounds, lighting conditions and so on.

I agree, the green logo is fine for a specific advertising or promotional purpose.
But the standard logo should remain as is, it remains widely used and understood and should not be updated or modified in any way. Long after the demise of "British rail" it was used to denote national rail services, especially when it was required to distinguish these from say LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd), TFL^▸ (Transport for London), or heritage rail operations.