Design Triangle, the UK transport design firm based in Cambridge, has been appointed by Swiss National Railways SBB-CCF-FFS (SBB), to redesign, modernise and standardise its current and future range of train interiors.

Appointed after a three-way paid pitch, Design Triangle is ready to embrace the challenges: firstly, to reduce the lifecycle costs of the Swiss National Railways’ interiors, and secondly to pare down the existing selection of 24 upholstery and colour schemes to create just two – one for first class and one for second class.

The objective for this redesign is to express the SBB brand through its interiors, while adding to the strength of the brand overall and working in harmony with the distinctive livery of the train exterior and the station environments.

Design Triangle won this project from a shortlist of three internationally renowned design companies, through depth of knowledge of train interiors, construction materials and maintenance.

Design Triangle has over 22 years’ experience gained designing trains including those for the Heathrow Express and Hong Kong Airport Express. Design Triangle’s pitch for SBB involved a five-day sketch design study of railway seating, the emphasis being on comfort, quality, style, technical performance and manufacturing feasibility.