Seymour Powell fleet on track with Meridian

Midland Mainline has unveiled the first of its Seymour Powell-designed Meridian trains, with 22 more to follow throughout the rest of the year.

Seymour Powell design director Nick Talbot led the project, which began in late 2001 and was completed towards the end of last year.

The consultancy was responsible for all exterior, interior and livery designs on the new vehicles, building on its previous refurbishment work for Midland Mainline’s older fleet.

‘Midland Mainline describes itself as a “doily” company, suggesting a feeling of comfort and cosiness,’ says Talbot. ‘They wanted to keep this image, but to reinterpret it [through design] as a “contemporary modern hotel”.’

Midland Mainline customer services director Malcolm Brown chose Seymour Powell without a formal pitch, on the basis of its experience in both consumer product and transportation design.