Today marks a landmark moment in British design and architecture as Network Rail unveils the railway’s first national clock design in over half a century at London Bridge station; a statement of heritage, innovation and accessible design, poised to become a new icon of British design. Created by Design Bridge and Partners, the physical and digital timepiece is designed to embody an iconic and ownable British aesthetic that celebrates the journeys and connections that are made every day across Britain’s railways.

The Rail Clock design appears as the winning entry in an international design competition run in partnership between Network Rail and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Design Museum.

Design Bridge and Partners was tasked with creating a standardised, consistent and accessible clock design to significantly enhance the passenger experience, while reflecting the design and brand history of the railway, which marks its 200th year in 2025.

The 1.8 metre timepiece takes inspiration from the timeless graphic symbol of the railway: the iconic double arrow logo, created by Gerry Barney in 1965. The double arrow motif is dynamically integrated into the clock face, with its two halves travelling in opposing directions, converging precisely every 30 seconds. This subtle yet powerful visual metaphor speaks to the constant flow and convergence of journeys.

At its heart, a bold 24-hour display features an updated iteration of the railway’s own typeface, Rail Alphabet 2, originally developed by Margaret Calvert and digitised by Henrik Kubel.

Design Bridge and Partners consulted with accessibility experts to ensure more people will be able to read the time and be presented with simpler and more legible digital content. The result is a truly accessible physical and digital clock that’s designed for everyone.

Rail Clock takes its place at the heart of the railway, as the industry begins a new journey together as one organisation. Together with the unveiling of Rail Clock at London Bridge station, exclusive merchandise inspired by Britain’s rich railway heritage will be available for purchase at a Design Museum pop-up store in London Bridge station from 16-17th October, with the range also available via the Design Museum’s shop and online store. Rail Clock will progressively be integrated into Customer Information Screens (CIS) across the network, rolling out in various Network Rail-managed stations, transforming the visual landscape of British rail travel.

Rail Clock can also be adapted for use in any digital format, from phones to smart watches. Developed in partnership with professional services company Cognizant, the clock will be made available to the public as a watchface via the Android app stored in the coming months.

“British ingenuity and passion are the foundations of the railway, from the very first passenger service 200 years ago to the millions of rail journeys now taken every day. This clock represents a bridge between the historic past and new future for our railways — an integrated railway network that’s more reliable, consistent, efficient and accountable, thus delivering growth, jobs and homes. Good design, like this brilliant, clever timepiece, is a fundamental part of achieving this.”

— Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister

“Two hundred years after the first railway opened in Britain, we’re about to embark on a new journey as a railway, putting passengers first. Part of that journey will be giving everyone the same positive experience across all parts of the network, and design is central to that.

A clock is the first thing people look for when they arrive at a station. The railway is driven by time, being ‘on time’ is our promise to passengers, and clocks have always provided landmarks for people to meet at and use to navigate their way around stations. This design provides a proud and eye-catching centrepiece and acts as a brilliant reminder of the new journey we’re about to undertake together.”

— Anthony Dewar, Network Rail

“In 1965, it was wonderful to win the competition to design the symbol of our railway: “The Double Arrow”. Now in 2025, I’m thrilled to see the winning entry that continues to celebrate it in a new timepiece for future generations of rail passengers to enjoy - what Design Bridge and Partners have created is really magic.”

— Gerry Barney, Creator of the Double Arrow

“We were looking for something exceptional. And the outcome is an accessible piece of design that’s made for everyone who uses the railway.”

— Margaret Calvert, Competition Judge

“We are incredibly proud to have won the ‘Timepiece for the Railway’ competition. Our partnership with Network Rail, RIBA and the Design Museum has been highly collaborative, and seeing Rail Clock come to life is immensely rewarding. Our ambition was to create a new icon of British design that creates lasting impact, and we hope Rail Clock becomes the face of time across the railway for many years to come.”

— Mark Wood, Creative Partner, and Kevin Lan, Creative Director, Design Bridge and Partners