Saying it in style - and with a local flavour

Passenger transport industry design specialist Ray Stenning continues his regular look at how the style and experience of the product can make a massive difference to its appeal.

Stylish new trams for Blackpool, but what does their livery say about the town? My ideas for Brighton & Hove have sought to celebrate the resort’s specialcharacter

Stylish new trams for Blackpool, but what does their livery say about the town? My ideas for Brighton & Hove have sought to celebrate the resort’s specialcharacter

French panache: the trams in Grenoble have had fun with colour inside and out

French panache: the trams in Grenoble have had fun with colour inside and out

Exciting shapes with styling to suit their markets. High-speed trains (In France, Germany and Italy pictured) have a lot going for them in terms of image. And even more so where the livery and interior design celebrate their specialness.

Exciting shapes with styling to suit their markets. High-speed trains (In France, Germany and Italy pictured) have a lot going for them in terms of image. And even more so where the livery and interior design celebrate their specialness.

Design is a language that is international, and in an increasingly global society we are all better able to understand its vocabulary, grammar and syntax whether we are from Brighton or Bratislava, or whether that design was created in London or Lille.

That said, design also has the capability to speak with a local accent, and in the area of passenger transport there is an opportunity to reflect the culture and personality of particular places in the design, identity and styling of the...