British Rail logo designer calls green makeover ‘a load of old b*****ks’

As today is World Car Free Day (22 September), the railway industry has launched their “We Mean Green” campaign for people to use greener trains instead of cars.

The campaign highlights how a single train removes up to 500 cars off our roads and taking the train cuts carbon emissions by two thirds.

But it is National Rail’s new green logo to coincide with this launch that has got people talking.

Instead of the famous red and white British Rail logo we are all familiar with, the temporary revamp includes the same logo outline while the arrows and lines are filled in with four different shades of green.

Despite the environmentally friendly message behind the temporary design change, many people aren’t impressed, including Gerry Barney, the designer of the original logo who was horrified when he saw the new logo for the first time, The Guardian reported.

“I think that’s rubbish,” he told the publication. “I could understand it if they had just swapped red for green. But why on earth have they got that many colours? It’s a load of old bollocks. It’s just a mess.”

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The 82-year-old designed the logo back in 1964 when he was a lettering artist.

Barney was asked by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to endorse the new green version but refused to (not surprising given his critical comments).

“I don’t know if it can be updated, it’s so simple,” he said. “They should just leave it well alone – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

It seems many people agree with Barney’s sentiments and took to Twitter to diss the updated logo.

While some think that a greener logo will not convince more people to take the more environmentally friendly route and use trains, but rather a reduction in ticket prices might instead.

Elsewhere, designers shared what they would have done to update the logo.

Not everyone hated the new logo though.

But, those concerned with the new green design shouldn’t worry because it is only temporary, as the Rail Delivery Group highlighted in their Twitter thread where they took the logo criticism on the chin with a funny Kermit GIF noting “It’s not easy... bein’ green.”

They also took the time to explain the environmental benefits of opting to take the train instead of using a car.

According to a report published earlier this month, the Rail Delivery Group estimated that a 20% shift from rail to road would lead to an extra one million tonnes of CO2 emissions and 300 million hours stuck in traffic jams per year.

With only weeks until COP26, the UN climate summit (1 – 12 November 2021) in Glasgow, people will see the iconic British Rail double arrow logo go green through posters displayed at stations, onboard trains and across digital channels.

Andy Bagnall, Director General at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Train travel is more than a journey. By choosing to travel or transport goods by rail, people and businesses are on track to cut their carbon footprint so that together we achieve the net zero target.

“While rail accounts for 10% of journeys, it is responsible for just 1% of transport emissions. We want to work with government to reform the rail industry including making fares much simpler so that trains are the more attractive option to driving or flying.”

For more information about the We Mean Green campaign, visit the Rail Delivery Group website.