GB2163281A - Underground station identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

A railway station identification system consists of a plurality of coloured stripes running the entire length of the platform, each station having its own colour combination which is indicated on diagrammatic maps provided inside the trains. The platform stripes may consist of lights behind a translucent front panel, or may consist of coloured fluorescent lights. When three stripes are provided the upper and lower stripes may have curved upper and lower edges for decorative effect. The diagrammatic maps may each include a light system for lighting up the colour stripes of an approaching station. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Underground station identification system This invention relates to station identification on underground, elevated and other urban railways.

It can be very difficult in the rush hour to identify an underground railway station from a train when the platform is crowded with people more or less covering the view to the station name boards. Towns with underground railways are often cosmopolitan, i.e.

many travellers are foreigners who may not be able to guess a station's name if part of the name is hidden by the crowd of waiting people. Loudspeaker announcement of stations inside modern underground trains are often unreliable or not clear.

According to the present invention each railway station with much traffic has a continuous multi-coloured signboard in full length of the platform. The colour coding used for each station on the given line will be shown inside each coach, for example over doors and windows.

A system of three coloured stripes over each other may give optimum perception: Colours are clearly identified at the top, the bottom and in between. The continuous colour signboard on the platform will be well lighted, for example with back lighting through a front of coloured glass. The diagrammatic maps inside the trains can either be ordinary printed maps or be made with coloured light. A final development would include the lighting-up of the colour coding of an approaching station simultaneously with the loudspeaker announcement.

The name of the station will appear within the middle colour strip on the long signboards on the station. The top and bottom colour strips do not need to have straight outer edges: a certain decorative effect can be obtained with the outer edges being curved or bent to a design by an artist.

A proposed name for the system for easy reference is: "Metro Colorgraphics".

DRAWING TEXT Drawing 1, Fig. 1 Underground station with proposed continuous multi-coloured, lighted sign board on wall at right.

Drawing 2, Fig. 2 Inside a train. The continuous signboard can be seen over and between the heads of people on a station platform. Diagrammatic map with station identification colours is shown over the external sliding doors.

Drawing 3, Fig. 3 Types of continuous signboards.

1. Sinuous type.

2. Angular type. Shown with the Arab word Yasmin given as name of a station.

3. Rectilinear type.

Different colour combinations including white can be used in the stripes.

1. A railway station identification signboard system consisting of two parts: a. On the station platforms: A continuous signboard in full length of the railway station platforms with one or more coloured stripes in full length. Each station having its own colour combination.

b. Inside the trains over doors (and windows): A diagrammatic map showing the railway line with the stations indicated with coloured stripes matching the colours used on the station platforms.

2. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1.a with translucent front and built-in light behind.

3. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1 .a with fluorescent lamps of one or more colours in straight or decorative shape in full length of the platform.

4. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1.a, Claim 2 or Claim 3 with curved or bent upper and lower edges for decorative effect.

5. Diagrammatic maps inside the trains as claimed in Claim 1 .b with the station identification colour stripes made on or of translucent material and with light behind.

6. Diagrammatic maps as claimed in Claim 1 .b or Claim 5 with a light system lighting up the colour stripes for an approaching station.

7. A station identification signboard and map system substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying three drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Underground station identification system This invention relates to station identification on underground, elevated and other urban railways. It can be very difficult in the rush hour to identify an underground railway station from a train when the platform is crowded with people more or less covering the view to the station name boards. Towns with underground railways are often cosmopolitan, i.e. many travellers are foreigners who may not be able to guess a station's name if part of the name is hidden by the crowd of waiting people. Loudspeaker announcement of stations inside modern underground trains are often unreliable or not clear. According to the present invention each railway station with much traffic has a continuous multi-coloured signboard in full length of the platform. The colour coding used for each station on the given line will be shown inside each coach, for example over doors and windows. A system of three coloured stripes over each other may give optimum perception: Colours are clearly identified at the top, the bottom and in between. The continuous colour signboard on the platform will be well lighted, for example with back lighting through a front of coloured glass. The diagrammatic maps inside the trains can either be ordinary printed maps or be made with coloured light. A final development would include the lighting-up of the colour coding of an approaching station simultaneously with the loudspeaker announcement. The name of the station will appear within the middle colour strip on the long signboards on the station. The top and bottom colour strips do not need to have straight outer edges: a certain decorative effect can be obtained with the outer edges being curved or bent to a design by an artist. A proposed name for the system for easy reference is: "Metro Colorgraphics". DRAWING TEXT Drawing 1, Fig. 1 Underground station with proposed continuous multi-coloured, lighted sign board on wall at right. Drawing 2, Fig. 2 Inside a train. The continuous signboard can be seen over and between the heads of people on a station platform. Diagrammatic map with station identification colours is shown over the external sliding doors. Drawing 3, Fig. 3 Types of continuous signboards. 1. Sinuous type. 2. Angular type. Shown with the Arab word Yasmin given as name of a station. 3. Rectilinear type. Different colour combinations including white can be used in the stripes. CLAIMS

1. A railway station identification signboard system consisting of two parts: a. On the station platforms: A continuous signboard in full length of the railway station platforms with one or more coloured stripes in full length. Each station having its own colour combination.

b. Inside the trains over doors (and windows): A diagrammatic map showing the railway line with the stations indicated with coloured stripes matching the colours used on the station platforms.

2. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1.a with translucent front and built-in light behind.

3. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1 .a with fluorescent lamps of one or more colours in straight or decorative shape in full length of the platform.

4. A station identification platform signboard as claimed in Claim 1.a, Claim 2 or Claim 3 with curved or bent upper and lower edges for decorative effect.

5. Diagrammatic maps inside the trains as claimed in Claim 1 .b with the station identification colour stripes made on or of translucent material and with light behind.

6. Diagrammatic maps as claimed in Claim 1 .b or Claim 5 with a light system lighting up the colour stripes for an approaching station.

7. A station identification signboard and map system substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying three drawings.