TfL turns to high-profile designers for concepts and testing

PearsonLloyd, PriestmanGoode and Map Project office are among studios working on concepts and industrial designs for the capital’s transport network.

By Angus Montgomery July 15, 2015 11:47 am July 15, 2015 12:41 pm

Interior of the PriestmanGoode-designed New Tube for London

Transport for London has put together a high-profile framework of design consultancies, which will work on conceptual projects, as well as industrial design and testing.

TfL has appointed Pearsonlloyd, PriestmanGoode and MAP Project office to its 3D Product Infrastructure Design Framework. The consultancies are joined by ERA Studio, Lacock Gullam, Maynard Design Consultancy and Rapitypes and Jedco Product Designers, while Ove Arup and Partners will work solely on the industrial design elements for TfL.

TfL says the appointed groups will work on “conceptual design, industrial design, industrial analysis and testing” across its network.

It is understood that work commissioned through the framework could include anything from station entrance designs to concepts for new trains.

As well as being appointed to the new framework, PriestmanGoode is also currently working with TfL on new designs for London Tube trains.

These new trains will go into service in around five years’ time on the Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City lines.

The new Tube trains will feature a walk-through design, air-cooled cars and digital screens showing live updates. The doors will be wider than those on current trains, aiming to allow quicker turnaround times at stations and increased capacity.

The designs for the new trains were unveiled last year, with PriestmanGoode director Paul Priestman saying: “We took inspiration from iconic London landmarks and key attributes of British design to create a tube that is beautiful, simple, functional and maintainable.”

Meanwhile Map Project Office’s sister consultancy Barber & Osgerby is working on designs for the new Crossrail trains, which are set to enter service in the capital in 2017.

Each train will be just over 200m long, made up of nine walk-through carriages and able to carry up to 1,500 passengers.

Key features of the high-capacity trains include air conditioning and inter-connecting walk-through carriages, while on-train passenger information systems will deliver real-time travel information to allow passengers to plan their onward journeys.