Network Rail is currently undergoing a varied multi-billion pound programme of improvement projects and infrastructure enhancements around the UK. Each regional route will benefit from the investment, which in turn provides greater efficiency and flexibility across the whole network.
Despite the inevitable disruption of delays and engineering works, the hardest task is communicating the long-term benefits to key stakeholders and the wider commuter audience alike. In short Network Rail wants people to have easy access to information about what they are doing and how it will affect their journeys.
One of the first routes to undergo massive investment is the Great Western Route between Paddington, the West Country and Wales. Further were asked to design and develop an intuitive and highly visual tool showing the wide range of complex projects and scope of work being undertaken.
Our response was to create a simple yet engaging isometric route map, which layers the different types of project work and their respective timeframes. Users are able to switch between the filtered layers, roll over icons to check out project status and link to separate project pages for additional information. The overall look & feel ties in with the award-winning online CR report launched last year and begins to create a distinctive digital visual identity for Network Rail.
This is the first of several interactive maps covering a fraction of their national framework. Additional mapping projects will offer Further’s online team greater opportunities to explore richer media content and enhance usability.
Check out www.networkrail.co.uk/thegreatwestern
