UK groups roll into Hong Kong

The world’s most profitable railway company is undergoing a complete rebranding with the help of a number of UK consultancies.

Hong Kong’s Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) transports one million passengers a day. Its principal activities are passenger and freight services, a light rail system, feeder bus services and property interests. It is currently building a 52km western railway to connect the light railway and the existing KCRC line in the east.

Rebranding is being undertaken in conjunction with interior and annual report redesign as the corporation attempts to appear more competitive to potential investors in the light of the 1997 handover to China.

Roundel Design is working on one unified corporate logo, to be launched towards the end of the year, says a KCRC spokesman.

In order to raise funds for new projects, KCRC is talking to a wider audience outside the colony.

Merchant Corporate Design is creating the company’s annual report, due out mid April, and has contracted Nick Clark at Zulver & Co for the design work. Design implementation is by Design Bridge in Hong Kong.

The mid-life refurbishment of rolling stock is a natural reason to examine the way the corporation should look, says a KCRC spokesman. Compartment interiors and train front-end design is being carried out by Jones

Garrard. KCRC also plans to introduce a new through-train service to China, also designed by Jones Garrard.

Kowloon station is currently being remodelled into a larger terminus for China-bound travellers. Design work is by Sir Norman Foster and Partners in Hong Kong, says the spokesman.