National look for Scotland’s railway

Scotland’s railway network has unveiled its first nationwide brand identity, devised by Edinburgh-based design consultancy Redpath.

The consultancy won the prestigious project 18 months ago, following a two-way pitch against Lethal Thinking.

The group’s winning visual scheme responded to Transport Scotland’s brief to design a ‘consistent and continuous visual language’ for the Scotrail network.

At the core of Scotrail’s new identity is a forward-looking arrow device, which fuses into a graphic interpretation of the saltire cross at the point where two carriages meet.

‘Where the carriages meet and how that interaction happens was fairly crucial to our branding solution,’ explains Redpath managing director Richard Irvine.

‘The new visual identity had to represent the notion of movement and dynamism, while forming a flowing representation of the most recognisable graphic symbol of Scotland – the saltire,’ says Irvine.

Previously, Scotrail’s livery and visual communications have been fragmented between the east and west coast, explains Irvine, who hopes a new uniform look will help ‘reinforce Scotrail’s relationship with the people of Scotland’.

A traditional blue and silver colour palette further emphasises the railway network’s connection to its Scottish heritage.

Redpath’s new visual scheme will be rolled out across rolling stock, stations, signage, uniforms and corporate material, over the coming months.