Sunday 13 July 2008

More London Overground sign shenanigans

Following on from the late decision to switch from orange on white to orange, reader Simon has spotted a third kind at Clapham , this time blue on white with an orange stripe. Clapham Junction is managed by South West Trains rather than Over- or Underground, which may explain it.

Meanwhile London Overground's Interim sign standards (Version 5!) now codify the situation of having white-on-orange outside and black-on-orange inside. TfL have a whole load of these available. On page 13 of this one you can see Hackney Central with lifts but very narrow platforms.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blue on white with an orange stripe is exactly the best combination of blue, white, and orange - hopefully it is not just SWT station that will get this Overground branding. Black-on-orange or blue-on-orange looks just dirty...

Anonymous said...

Er.. should that 'third kind' link go somewhere else?

Clapham Junction doesn't follow the normal NR routine where the station facility owner defines the branding, the Southern platforms have 'Southern' name boards for instance...

Anonymous said...

The Clapham sign looks the best. They should all be like that. Above all TFL need to realise that it will take far more than changing the signs to make London Overground significantly improve.

Phil J said...

Are those pictures of Hackney Central serious plans? Is there any timescale for it?

Anonymous said...

I disagree - I think changing the signs and bringing the stations up to scratch is a HUGE part of improving the service.

My worst times on the NLL were spent cowering near the help point at various decrepit stations. Nice paint, nice signs and a staff presence have already eradicated all that!

I do agree that all the station signs should be like that Clapham one, though I think all this is a stop gap anyway until full roundels come in, am I right..?

Unknown said...

The Clapham sign appears to meet the requirements for an 'overhead sign' as shown in the signs standard issue 2, so it may well be the final sign, although not explicitly shown there. It is likely there isn't room for regular floor standing roundels at CJ, and of course as it is a SWT station there is no need to wait until the station is 'overhauled to LO standards' cos it won't be any time soon!

Anonymous said...

The blue-on-white version can also be found at Stratford...

Mr Thant said...

martin_petrov: They're definitely meant to be adding lifts and doing some serious upgrading over the next couple of years, and I've seen a colour version of that image attached. Can't find it now though.

plcd1 said...

As a follow on to the Hackney Central comments aren't Network Rail also obliged and funded to provide a link between Hackney Downs and Hackney Central? I noticed yesterday when I passed by on a NLL train that there were NR vehicles in the area and that some clearance appeared to have been done.

Anonymous said...

My understanding is that the orange stripe/white background sign design is the one and only permanent variant.

Anonymous said...

In fact, I wish DLR's was the same (turquoise stripe at the top, white background for station name, blue text.)

Abigail Brady said...

Hackney Central could also do with some work widening the gateline; it's quite absurd when an eastbound train stops in the peak.

Anonymous said...

It looks from the photo like the Clapham Junction sign does not include the words "Temporary Sign" as the orange background signs do. So maybe this is the permanant design...

Mr Thant said...

The final design is full Underground-style roundels, though not until each station has been fully refurbished (ie 2010).

I've noticed the apparently permanent signs at Stratford before because the platforms there are only in use until the end of the year, when Overground moves upstairs.