My morning has been thoroughly disrupted by TfL moquette, as you can imagine

Mike@mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 12h ago

Emily's wonderful performance on Mastermind with specialist subject TfL moquettes - here's a 2009 pic with the top 3 designs in the international competition we at London Underground ran to re-start the process of commissioning designs. Seen against the PPP moquette that kicked it off!

I seem to recall people saying we'll have years to discuss the livery and we need to be talking more about structure than appearance. But it now seems that the current design IS the livery. And in fact it is the DfT which is obsessed with appearance and optics over substance 😬

This is a minor point compared to the main thrust of the story, but you can see TfW’s developing modal colour branding here - the coach has a green T (for buses/coaches). Trains are red, Metro is orange. (Original story/image source: media.service.gov.wales/news/new-tai... )

Yesterday me: I have too many railway books. My shelves are full and bowing under the weight. Today me: Oh! I need a new railway book!

Markonthemaps (Mark Ovenden)@markonthemaps.bsky.social · 4d ago

Book launch ahead! Love #maps #railways #design? Know people who do? Search "Mapping Britain's Railways" & "Ovenden" for new #BritishLibrary title out 18/08/26. 1st with every #TrainOperatingCompany & newest #GreatBritishRailways maps, plus historical ones. #transit & #cartography lovers must-have!

Three new site records started on https://stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/ with two more updated, with thanks to a regular correspondent. Here's a photo of the water tower at Romsey; it also has a Pooley weighbridge (thanks to @mikeyashworth.bsky.social for prompting me to get that one done).

Latest stations added to site

Brent Cross West Kings Norton (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) London Euston (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Romsey Rowley Regis (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Thank you very much to the contributors mentioned above! If you're inspired to take part yourself, check out the "Join In" page. To keep up to date with new stations and artefacts added to the website, subscribe below:

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

Records for heritage artefacts at 9 more mainline stations added to https://stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/ and 2 updated today thanks to five contributors! You will know my delight in finding surviving weighbridges at stations; another has turned up at Lye (photo © Hazel Nicholson).

Latest stations added to site

Cradley Heath (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Deal Dunkeld & Burnham (submitted by John Martin) Falmer (submitted by Paul Wright) Langley Green (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Lye (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Sandy (updated) (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Stourbridge Junction (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Sutton Coldfield (submitted by Paul Webster) Tonbridge (updated with improved image) (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Winchelsea (submitted by Paul Wright)

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

There are many British Rail-era plaques commemorating station openings/rebuilds, usually set in #RailAlphabet. But I think this is the first time I've seen their modern equivalent set in (I think) RA3. Photo by @watfordgap.bsky.social, featured on stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...

Chunky update to https://stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/ - 8 new station records, and another 8 station records updated with new artefacts, with many thanks to four contributors. So many wonderful 'things' to choose from, but how about this rare GWR utility cover at Worcester Shrub Hill.

Latest stations added to site

Bristol Temple Meads (updated) (submitted by Jack Kirby) Darlaston (updated) (submitted by Paul Webster) Darlington (submitted by Paul Webster) Doleham (submitted by Paul Wright) Glynde (submitted by Paul Wright) Hamstead (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Reading (updated) (submitted by Jack Kirby) Stockport (updated) (submitted by Jack Kirby) Tamworth (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Three Oaks (submitted by Paul Wright) Whaley Bridge (submitted by Jack Kirby)

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

Excellent progress report from @ianvisits.co.uk on Peckham Rye. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/pec... Want to know more about the demolished arcade and the Art Deco store opposite? Do (shameless plug) check out my recent book Trackside Transformation: artdecomagpie.bigcartel.com/product/pre-...

Peckham Rye station’s arcade demolition down to ground level

Commuters using Peckham Rye station are getting a first hint of what the station's front will look like when the old shopping arcade is demolished.

ianvisits.co.uk

Future considerations for this difficult-to-apply livery are how to make it work on... Class 755/3 (three carriages plus short power pack vehicle) Class 139 (single carriage short vehicle) The obvious solution is red swooshes on end vehicles only with new scheme for intermediate carriages. 1/2

doublearrow.co.uk@doublearrow64.bsky.social · 4w ago

Common sense has begun to prevail, in that the GBR 720s on the Anglia region appear to have a plain middle coach; how much longer before GBR realise that the ‘glitch‘ is also redundant on coaches 2 and 4? If only the red had extended down the length of the train

In July 2025, DfT said "public sector operators will have to meet rigorous performance standards and earn the right to be called ‘Great British Railways’" (see: www.gov.uk/government/n...) Do we know what those standards were that GBR Southern, South Western and Anglia have, presumably, now met?

London to Essex c2c services return to public control in step towards Great British Railways

c2c’s rail services to be brought into public ownership.

gov.uk

You should read this article, which is extremely annoying for two reasons: 1) It has required me to critically re-examine my previously unconditional love for the new Overground line colours/names (I hate not being right about everything first time) 2) It is very well written and I am jealous.

Ryan@ryanbate.bsky.social · last mo.

Oh I have a NEW POST out, about the new names and colours of the London Overground. And my Pantone colour bridge finally gets some use. nowletsbeclear.substack.com/p/crisis-in-...

Eleven new station records added to www.stationheritageartefacts.org.uk and three updated with many thanks to three contributors. What to choose to illustrate the update though? How about a terrifying reminder of the time Chris Grayling was a particularly useless transport secretary...

Latest stations added to site

Bradford Interchange (updated) (submitted by Jack Kirby) Bristol Parkway (submitted by Jack Kirby) Buxton (submitted by Jack Kirby) Cambridge North (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Cambridge South (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) London Euston (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Oakengates (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Reading (submitted by Jack Kirby) Redditch (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Rochdale (submitted by Jack Kirby) Stowmarket Stroud…

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

I promise one day to stop going on about GBR branding, but this from today's GBR Anglia announcement is v funny. "The internationally recognised Stansted Express identity will be retained and will transition to GBR Stansted Express". Sure thing. It's all they talk about in Berlin, Madrid, Rome. 1/2

Just published at www.stationheritageartefacts.org.uk - records of heritage artefacts at three more stations, plus two stations updated, thanks to two contributors. Lots to enjoy including an LNER utility cover, and this artwork at brand-new Cambridge South (©watfordgap.bsky.social)

Latest stations added to site

Cambridge South (submitted by Paul Webster) Evesham (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Needham Market Oakham (updated) (submitted by Paul Webster) Shenfield Thank you very much to the contributors mentioned above! If you're inspired to take part yourself, check out the "Join In" page. To keep up to date with new stations and artefacts added to the website, subscribe below:

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

This is just lovely.

The Railway Heritage Trust@railwayheritage.bsky.social · last mo.

We're pleased the Gordon & Union St entrances to Glasgow Central will re-open on 13 July. But we think the Argyle St entrance is best - it has this wonderful new tiled artwork for which we gave a grant - a reproduction of a Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh advert for Drooko umbrellas.

Great to see a story about a DFTO-owned train operator introducing a "new look" for stations that includes a signage typeface (Rail Alphabet 2) that's already been superseded in other bits of DFTO (using Rail Alphabet 3). Baffling no-one is getting a grip on this. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/sou...

South London station chosen to trial a new look for Britain’s railways

A south London station has been chosen to trial a new “model stations” concept that aims to declutter the stations to make them easier to use.

ianvisits.co.uk

Just published at www.stationheritageartefacts.org.uk: records of the heritage artefacts located at six more stations, plus one station updated, thanks to a regular contributor. This elegant British Railways Board opening plaque is at Neath (© Hazel Nicholson)

Latest stations added to site

Ashchurch for Tewkesbury (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Haverfordwest (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Leamington Spa (updated) (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Merthyr Tydfil (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Nairn Neath (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Swansea (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Thank you very much to the contributors mentioned above! If you're inspired to take part yourself, check out the "Join In" page. To keep up to date with new stations and artefacts added to the website, subscribe below:

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

On the general nonsensicalism of branding GBR-liveried trains with ex-TOC identifiers (GBR Southern / GBR South Western with presumably more to come), Thomas Ableman's recent article on the subject is well worth a read. www.freewheeling.info/blog/gbr-nee...

GBR Urgently needs a Brand Strategy — Freewheeling

The trains are being painted but it’s not yet clear what the brand is meant to mean. Brand strategy is not an afterthought - it’s a fundamental driver of customer experience. It should be one of the ...

freewheeling.info

For long-ago professional reasons, I am v pleased to have added Smethwick Rolfe Street to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk, a station we were always proud of at @communityrail.bsky.social. Hopefully @watfordgap.bsky.social will be pleased to see it too. stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...

Artefacts record: Smethwick Rolfe Street

Category: EListing Status: Not listedYear Opened: 1852 (Birmingham, Wolverhampton & Stour Valley Railway), current building from 1890 (London & North Western Railway) Heritage artefacts at …

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

Four contributors submitted artefacts records for four new stations, with three updated. Love this gate at Shrewsbury and SRA/Wales & Borders sign at Ludlow (both © Hazel Nicholson) and this plaque at Llandrindod Wells (© Brian Blackmore). stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/2026/06/30/l...

For our next two online events, it’s all about travel. 🚃 ✈️ Trackside Transformation: Mainline Railway Station Architecture 1923-47. An online talk by Daniel Wright Tuesday, 28th July. 7.30pm

It is, I think, worth remembering that things could always be worse. Before the GBR livery was unveiled I took a look at the logo for Great British Energy to see if it could tell us anything about what the GBR logo might look like. If it had followed the same logic, here's what we could have had...

Three new station artefacts records added today to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk and four updated, thanks to two contributors. More of the Far North Line now on the site and I can't resist a Pooley weighing machine so the featured image is the one at Rogart (image © David Thompson).

Latest stations added to site

Bedford St Johns (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Borough Green & Wrotham (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Dingwall (updated) (submitted by David Thompson) Dunrobin Castle (updated) (submitted by David Thompson) Golspie (updated) (submitted by David Thompson) Harpenden (updated) (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Rogart (submitted by David Thompson) Thank you very much to the contributors mentioned above! If you're inspired to take part yourself, check out the "Join In" page. To keep up to date with new stations and artefacts added to the website, subscribe below:

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

Just in time for Great British Railways’ branding to supersede Greater Anglia’s station colour palette! www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/new...

Wrote this for @lonrec.bsky.social on my new accidental specialist subject…

London Reconnections@lonrec.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Greater London’s overlooked Art Deco railway stations

You know all about those Art Deco London Underground stations from the 1920s/30s - but what was happening on the mainline railway? Let me tell you all about it... I'm giving a talk to @artdecosocuk.bsky.social on 28 July and it's open to everyone. Tickets at: www.artdecosociety.uk/events-2/

Nine new artefacts records added today to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk and two updated, thanks to three contributors. A good chunk of the Far North Line now on the site including the delightful Fearn (image © David Thompson) which has unusual fixed steps on its platform.

Latest stations added to site

Alness (submitted by David Thompson) Alvechurch (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Beauly (submitted by David Thompson) Brighton (updated) (submitted by Matt Pyecroft) Bromsgrove (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Conon Bridge (submitted by David Thompson) Fearn (submitted by David Thompson) Invergordon (submitted by David Thompson) Malvern Link Muir of Ord (submitted by David Thompson) Tain (updated) (submitted by David Thompson) Thank you very much to the contributors mentioned above!

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

More artefacts records added today to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk, thanks to two contributors. Can't decide between Pitlochry's drinking water fountain (© John Martin) or Church Stretton's weighbridge (© Hazel Nicholson) so here are both. stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/2026/06/01/l...

Five stations added to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk, thanks to regular contributor Hazel Nicholson. Includes this near-inexplicable sculpture at Erdington. Inspired to submit an artefact you've found at a station? Info about how to is in the link!

Latest stations added to site

Aston (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Chester Road (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Erdington (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Gravelly Hill (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Stourbridge Town (submitted by Hazel Nicholson) Thank you very much to Hazel Nicholson for this set of submissions! If you're inspired to take part yourself, check out the "Join In" page. To keep up to date with new stations and artefacts added to the website, subscribe below:

stationheritageartefacts.org.uk