Paddington Station Information

Paddington Station is widely regarded to be a masterpiece of Victorian engineering. By the late twentieth century however, its clarity was badly compromised by ad-hoc additions and so Grimshaw was appointed to develop a masterplan strategy for the station’s redevelopment.

Key to this strategy was transforming the whole journey by improving every detail. Billings Jackson was commissioned to look specifically at the way that information was dissipated throughout the station, to improve upon the existing, cumbersome information board.

The solution was to mount a series of plasma screens at key points in the terminal, giving passengers the freedom to enjoy the cafes and shops while remaining informed about their journeys. It had the added benefit of opening once again the dramatic vista down Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s stunning train sheds.

Instead of designing a one-off product, Billings Jackson Design worked with Ferrograph to design and engineer a flat screen plasma display enclosure and mounting system for the global railway market. 

Made up of highly engineered individual components, the system meets the required IP ratings for protection from water and dust and the latest generation of ultra-thin glass plasma screens gives a brightness, clarity and robustness lacking in older technologies.

This dynamic information system allows for a full-colour display of information throughout the station, chiefly at two key concourse locations determined with reference to research into passenger flow and orientation. Robust stainless steel masts each house two rows of eleven 42" ruggedised flat plasma screens, in a portrait format, mounted back-to-back and tilted forward, for ease of viewing.  Each screen benefits from a sunshade, an anti-reflective surface and elegant, slim minimum volume housing that makes it accessible and easy to read.