Proposal for a New Queensland Rail Citytrain Map Design
2022 marks two decades since I created a redesign of the Queensland Rail (QR) South East Queensland (SEQ) rail network map. It also marks the year that a beloved lecturer from my design school, Senior Lecturer Donald Welch, sadly passed away. The following writing is from a report I wrote under the supervision of Donald Welch in 2002, along with the story of how it came to be, and influenced the design of the future QR SEQ rail network maps. I am sharing it now in loving memory of Donald.
My QR SEQ rail network map design was originally created for Donald Welch’s second year Bachelor of Design Studies course on information design at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. I spent months researching the QR SEQ rail network and analysing the many design problems with what was (at the time) the current QR SEQ rail network map, so that I could correct these problems in my redesign. After much work, it was finally complete, and I presented the design to Donald Welch and the rest of the class as a major assessment item for the course. Donald was noticeably impressed, and then pulled me aside after class to urge me to submit the design to QR.
Donald supervised me to undertake a research project to find data to support the decisions made in the design, and assisted me in writing the following report, which presents these findings, along with detailed explanations of how the design of the QR SEQ rail network map can improved. Once complete, Donald sent my rail network map design, along with the report, to the chief executive of QR, Bob Scheuber. Below is an image of the cover letter that Donald wrote to Bob.
The letter said:
Dear Mr Scheuber,
Please find enclosed a copy of the report, ‘Proposal for a new Queensland Rail Citytrain map design’.
This proposal is the result of a detailed study of the existing CityTrain map by one of my second year Graphic Design students, Jarren Nylund.
You will appreciate the graphic clarity of the proposed new map, even at first glance. The report provides the reasons and evidence for the changes to the existing design.
Jarren’s redesign of the CityTrain map offers substantial benefits in terms of legibility, ease of accessing vital visual information, overall visual appeal and in being able to accommodate future changes.
I commend this design and would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss the matter. I shall contact you in the near future.
Regards,
Donald Welch
Senior Lecturer, Design, QCA
At first, the report was warmly received. In fact, we were told that the map was being considered for being implemented as the official QR SEQ rail network map, and we had been tentatively invited to present the new map design to the QR executives. But, as time passed, QR started to ignore follow-up communications until Donald finally gave up sending any further correspondence. But, relatively soon after, a new SEQ rail network map was released by QR which solved many of the problems that Donald and I had identified in the report. Indicating that even though QR clearly chose not to implement my redesign of the rail network map, they had been influenced by it enough to decide to overhaul the QR SEQ rail network map, taking on many of the report’s recommendations.
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Overview
The Queensland Rail (QR) Citytrain map design has been in use for numerous years. However, it is now showing signs of age. Over the years numerous additions, extensions and accretions have resulted in a visually cluttered map. It is time to clear up and update the Citytrain map.
The Citytrain map is the key element in providing passengers with the information needed to travel using QR services. Therefore the more effective this map can communicate the information, the more easily passengers will understand the service, and be able to use it. As Wurman (1996) notes in his book, Information Architects, “passenger information plays an important part in making a transit system work.” It is an absolutely critical aspect of a transport system, because without proper display of information, people will not fully understand the system.
This report analyses in detail how well the current map performs its role, and how it could be redesigned to communicate more effectively.
1.2 Recommendations
The numbers after each recommendation below refer to their relevant sections in the report.
Clearer visual definition of lines
- Clearly define the beginning and ending of each line (6.2).
- Simplify the line directions, to avoid confusion (6.3).
- Visually emphasise the line titles (6.4).
- Differentiate Trainlink services more clearly from rail services (6.9).
Accurate referencing
- Identify Inter Urban zones with more accurate and appropriate titles (6.6).
- Make termination points more obvious (6.7).
Elimination of superfluous information
- Remove the display of the icons, to assist the map in displaying its essential information more clearly (6.5).
- Remove the display of the Exhibition line, due to its lack of relevance to passengers for most of the year (6.12).
Associated information
- Add an approximate journey time to major destinations, rather than showing the physical distance of each line (6.8).
- Add the display of additional information that may become consequential to one’s journey planning (6.10).
Future developments
- The use of an underlying grid and system of rules that govern the design of the map and allow for any future developments (6.11).
- A survey to be conducted on a much larger scale (6.13).
2. Introduction
2.1 Terms of reference
Overall, how easy is it for travellers to understand and then use the Queensland Rail Citytrain map?
The Citytrain map is for the travelling public and has to relate to their needs. The current map suggests it may perhaps reflect the organisation of the rail network from an administration perspective. It may be that graphic ambiguities have developed as additional lines and services have been inserted over the years.
The degree to which the existing map addresses these aspects, in terms of content and visual appearance is what this report examines.
In terms of visual information, the graphic function of the map may be explained within the following framework:
Visual hierarchy
- Figure/ground relationship. That is, how items of importance (the ‘figures’) are distinguished from the background (the ‘ground’).
- What are the most important aspects?
- What are of secondary importance?
- How well is the remaining information displayed?
Legibility
- Selection of typeface.
- Size of lettering.
- Weight of lettering.
- Contrast against background.
Use of colour (for maximum effect with minimum ambiguity)
- Awareness of problems associated with colour-blindness.
- Achieving a practical and aesthetically pleasing outcome.
Consistency
- How one element relates to another.
2.2 Background
I am a second year Graphic Design student at Griffith University, studying at the Queensland College of Art. As part of my studies I undertook to redesign the QR Citytrain map. I have always been intrigued by the design of rail maps, and as a regular user of QR I have spent countless hours viewing the map displayed in the train carriages. This gave me the opportunity to analyse it in detail, and I felt that the design could be improved. This is what I have tried to achieve with this project.
3. Methodology
3.1 Introduction and sample population
Research was undertaken by means of a survey, and a small number of separate interviews. Using both interviews and questionnaires as a method of data collection meant that there was a good balance of qualitative and quantitative information gathered.
The survey was undertaken by randomly selecting 50 QR users as they entered or left Central Station, Brisbane. The survey was conducted over a period of two weeks between May and June, 2002. This sample population consisted of approximately 60% male respondents, and 40% female respondents. Approximately 40% of these people were from ages 10 to 19, 45% were from ages 20 to 29, 10% were from the ages 30 to 39, and 5% were from the age group of 40 to 49.
3.2 Survey questions
The survey was primarily used to find crucial statistical data that then could inform any major decisions that needed to be made for the map design (see appendix for sample questionnaire).
Q. How often do you travel using Queensland Rail?
Provided an understanding of what kind of user was being surveyed.
Q. What stations do you most regularly use (i.e., stations where you get on/off)?
Interested in knowing where most of the traffic flowed to. This information may have been important in deciding whether some aspects of the map were more important than others.
Q. How would you rate the current QR map on its ease of use?
Asked to see how people viewed the current map, and how effective it is at communicating Queensland Rail services.
Q. Have you ever needed to use the number of icons currently located on the Queensland Rail map?
This was a main question. This information was crucial in order to make a decision about whether the map redesign needed to include the icons that were on the already existing map.
Q. If yes, there is a list of the icons that they could tick to give information on what icons that the respondents have used.
If people were using the icons, then I wanted to know precisely which ones were being used.
Q. If you ticked any of the grey icon titles. The map lists every venue associated with these icons, do you think that this is necessary?
The current map has a large list located to the right of the map which I suspected was largely redundant. So this question was asked to find out if Queensland Rail users felt the same way.
Q. The current map indicated how many kilometres long each line is. Would you prefer to see an approximate time it takes to get to particular stations? Or would you prefer to keep the existing display of kilometres? Both? Or none?
After discovering that the current map shows the length of each line, I felt that this would be irrelevant to the travelling public. I thought that time could very well be a much more appropriate factor, so this question was asked to find out if the public agreed with this idea.
Q. The QR map features its Trainlink bus services along with its railway lines. Do you feel it is important for this Trainlink information to be on the map?
At first, I believed that this kind of information was not needed on the map, but I quickly changed my mind after gathering the results from respondents and listening to the reasoning behind their decisions.
Q. Have you ever used a Trainlink bus service?
I was interested to know the number of people who had used these services.
Q. The current QR map also features its ‘Exhibition’ route. Which is a service that operates between Brunswick Street and Roma Street, but only functions for a very small portion of the year. Do you think that this is important enough to be on the map?
This question was needed to be asked in order to discover whether or not this service should be placed on the map design.
Q. Number from 1 (most important) to 6 (least important) what you feel are the most important things on a railway map?
This was asked just to provide an understanding of people’s perception of what should be emphasised on a rail map design.
Q. What changes would you like to see made to the map?
This question was provided to give respondents the opportunity to give additional feedback.
4. Findings
4.1 Survey
Q. How often do you travel using Queensland Rail?
Yearly — 5%
Monthly — 10%
Weekly — 30%
Daily — 55%
Q. What stations do you most regularly use (i.e., stations where you get on/off)?
The results for this question were not very conclusive. But in general, city stations such as Brunswick Street, Central, Roma Street, South Brisbane, and South Bank were stated quite often. Other stations that were reasonably regular responses were most of the terminating stations. (A much larger sample would be needed to provide an adequate response to this question).
Q. How would you rate the current QR map on its ease of use?
Bad — 5%
Okay — 50%
Good — 35%
Great — 10%
Q. Have you ever needed to use the number of icons currently located on the Queensland Rail map?
Yes — 20%
No — 80%
Q. If the respondents answered ‘yes’ to the previous question, then they were asked to look at a list of the names of the icons and asked to check any that they had used.
From the 20% of the respondents that had used the icons, Trainlink, Shopping Precincts, and Entertainment were the most occurring results. Bus Rail Interchange, CityTrans, and Busway Interchange were also checked as having been used by some respondents.
Q. If you ticked any of the grey icon titles. The map lists every venue associated with these icons, do you think that this is necessary?
Yes — 35%
No — 45%
Unsure — 20%
Q. The current map indicated how many kilometres long each line is. Would you prefer to see an approximate time it takes to get to particular stations? Or would you prefer to keep the existing display of kilometres? Both? Or none?
Time — 65%
Kilometres — 5%
Both — 20%
None — 10%
Q. The QR map features its Trainlink bus services along with its railway lines. Do you feel it is important for this Trainlink information to be on the map?
Yes — 65%
No — 30%
Unsure — 5%
Q. Have you ever used a Trainlink bus service?
Yes — 15%
No — 85%
Q. The current QR map also features its ‘Exhibition’ route. Which is a service that operates between Brunswick Street and Roma Street, but only functions for a very small portion of the year. Do you think that this is important enough to be on the map?
Yes — 40%
No — 55%
Unsure — 5%
Q. Number from 1 (most important) to 6 (least important) what you feel are the most important things on a railway map?
This did not prove to be the most efficient question to ask. Due to the large variety of responses it seems that most people did not fully understand the task, and also a lack of time could have contributed too. But in general, Train Lines, Station Names, and Main Stations seemed to be the main focus of what people thought to be the most important things on a railway map.
Q. What changes would you like to see made to the map?
Due to the large number of responses that occurred from this question, it will have to be limited to just a few of the main responses. I received a number of responses saying that they thought that the maps looks too cluttered and some also commented that they thought it was because of the icons. I also found that a number of people suggested that time should definitely be added to the map, and a few others that stated that the time should replace the distance of the lines. A few people suggested that the train lines need to be more clear, and make the lines more evident about exactly where they were going.
4.2 Analysis
The fact that 80% of respondents had never used any of the icons located on the current Citytrain map indicates that perhaps they are not as important to include as once thought. 65% of respondents answered that they would prefer to see time on the map, rather than the distance. This indicates that the physical distance of each line is of little importance to the majority of Queensland Rail passengers. Trainlink bus services were originally one aspect of the map that I felt was expendable, but after reviewing the results I found that 65% believed that these services were important to feature on the map. It was interesting to note that only 15% of respondents had ever used one of these services though. The Exhibition line was a service that I felt could be taken from the map, due to the small amount of time that is it actually in operation. 55% of respondents agreed with this view.
5. Conclusion
This research concludes that although the majority of users are reasonably satisfied with the current Queensland Rail map, there are a number of changes that they feel could be made to increase its usefulness, and also the manner in which it communicates.
The current QR Citytrain map is at its visual limit. No more information could sensibly be placed onto it. The current map design has already begun to do some peculiar things in order to fit additional information on the map. These peculiar things are often mistaken as geographic accuracy. For example, the substantial kink in the line that occurs between Eumundi and Caboolture, when in fact the entire Caboolture line travels in almost a straight line that journeys north. Another example is the Cleveland line. This line appears that for a large part of its journey it is heading north. But in reality the line barely goes north at all. The essential direction is of a south-east nature.
Some items are of questionable value
- The large number of icons shown against some stations. Some of these icons may have been important in the past but perhaps are no longer quite so relevant. This issue needs further research.
Other relevant information is absent
- Indication of the separate service that operates between Ipswich and Rosewood.
- An emphasis of the of the terminating stations is missing from the current Citytrain map. Which is strange because it is these terminating stations that become the title of the service, and therefore are quite important to be able to locate.
- Trainlink services that operate between Eagle Junction and Doomben, and also between Caboolture and Nambour are completely absent from the current QR map. These pieces of information are important because it could very well influence the way someone plans their journey. These items may reflect changes which have occurred over recent years and which need to be included in a revised map.
There are some features that are clearly desirable to include
- Approximate journey duration times. It may be that travellers look to the Citytrain map for information that has previously not been considered necessary to include.
The existing map contains some ambiguities that could easily be reconciled
- Inter Urban Zones. A number of respondents noted that these zones could be better labelled. In one instance, an overseas visitor used the train to travel around the city quite often, but never realised that what the current map has labelled as “Inter Urban South” is actually the Gold Coast.
Overall, the results suggest that the existing Citytrain map would benefit from a redesign in terms of both the content and visual appearance. The recommendations define these specific changes in more detail.
6. Recommendations
6.1 Overview
Trains are often viewed by the public as intimidating, due to the sometimes overwhelming amount of information that can often be needed when making a journey by train, and also by the high amount of information that surrounds them when at a train station. By limiting the amount of unnecessary information and displaying the remaining information as clearly and logically as possible, Queensland Rail can make a journey more pleasant for their passengers.
6.2 Clearly defined lines
Action: Specify exactly where each train service begins and ends, from a user’s perspective.
Reason: Because the lines are not clear, the current map contains some ambiguities and user could be deceived into taking action that isn’t necessary.
From the information gathered from respondents it was quite clear that the general public wanted to know more accurately where each train line precisely travelled to. This information is not always clear on the current map. For example, the Shorncliffe train line visually ends at Bowen Hills. The implication of this is that the traveller has to change trains at this point. But, this is not the case. So why not indicate the continuation of the line? Perhaps this makes sense from a QR administration perspective, but is confusing to the travelling public. Another example is the Airport line, where from the lack of continuation of the extent of this line, it would be feasible to assume that you have to catch a train to Eagle Junction and then catch a separate service through to the Airport. But, the Airport service in reality runs all the way from Robina through to the Airport.
It is noted that in some circumstances this design may have minor conflicts with Queensland Rail’s current information system that is used to display train times at stations. For example, the Corinda and Ipswish/Rosewood services in the current system are displayed as a part of the one service. If this results in a reasonable amount of concern, then it would be feasible to a new system of displaying this information to be developed.
6.3 Simplify line direction
Action: Visually simplify the lines by providing the essential direction of the service.
Reason: The appearance of the current map has misled users into believing that the map has a much stronger relationship to geography than it actually does.
The current map’s lines wriggle around in separate directions which can confuse viewers about the direction in which they are travelling. By omitting these changes in direction, the crucial information is clearer, which then makes the map much easier to read and understand. At the same time prevents users from believing that these changes in direction are actually of geographic importance, placed in order to give them a greater understanding about their location — which is simply not true. The proposed map is actually more geographically accurate than the current one.
6.4 Clearly visible line titles
Action: Visually emphasise the titles of the train lines by increasing the point size and choose a heavier weight for the lettering.
Reason: To make these crucial pieces of information much easier to locate on the map.
The current map makes the viewer have to work quite hard to find the titles of each line as they are only slightly emphasised by being made bold. This proposed change would fix this problem by making this vital information more dominant. A very similar strategy has been employed on the design of the Sydney rail map, where all major destinations have been set in a ‘black’ typeface.
6.5 Icons
Action: Delete the icons from the design of the map.
Reason: Icons make the map look cluttered, and therefore more difficult to understand.
Throughout my research of rail maps from throughout the world I did not find any other map that had integrated collections of icons. I did find some specially designed tourist rail maps that sometimes contained entertainment information similar to the current QR Citytrain map, but not in quite as much detail. Because so many icons are included, they clutter the map. This makes it harder for the traveller to find essential information. The problem is exacerbated when the map is produced in smaller sizes (e.g., in timetables).
6.6 Identifying zones
Action: Change the titles of inter-urban regions with a more accurate description of their location (where possible).
Reason: Provide the user with a much clearer idea of their location
The title ‘Inter Urban North’ is ambiguous, and does not aid the user other than by communicating that they are outside of the city, and somewhere to the north. This is already signified quite clearly within the actual design of the map. Instead, I have changed the title to ‘Sunshine Coast’. which then provides the user with a more accurate understanding of the location. The same change has been made to ‘Inter Urban South’, which is now labelled Gold Coast.
6.7 Termination points
Action: Include graphic devices which indicate the number of termination points.
Reason: Inform users more clearly where train destinations are located, which then provides them with a greater understanding of the services that will get them to their own specific destinations.
The terminals define the lines. Therefore, it is important to clearly identify these crucial reference points. This becomes especially relevant to users when colour coding is not visible (e.g., on the newly installed LED displays). Termination points become the title of Queensland Rail services. This fact becomes important due to the recent station updates such as Park Road, and also South Brisbane, where instead of using a screen that can display colour (which therefore identifies which line the destination is on), LED displays have been installed. These LED displays can only show one colour, which for example, means that if a train was going to terminate at Petrie. Even a regular train user that would usually catch the Caboolture train could very well see the Petrie train and completely disregard it as going somewhere else, and wait for the next Caboolture train. To find where these less often occurring terminating stations are on the current map is very difficult, as they are visually made no more distinctive than any other station. The proposed map design solves this problem by clearly identifying where trains terminate with a graphic device, and also by making the titles of these stations bold.
6.8 Time
Action: Include an approximate time it takes to get to the station, rather than the distance.
Reason: More relevant to a passenger travelling on a QR service.
The current map has the distance of each line (measured in kilometres) displayed on it. As research shows, this kind of information can be completed irrelevant to most of the actual users of Queensland Rail. It has been noted that people believe it would be more appropriate to replace this information with the approximate time it takes to get to certain major destinations. The proposed map contains this change.
6.9 Trainlink
Action: Further visually differentiate the Trainlink services from rail lines.
Reason: People were easily confused into thinking that these services were actually rail lines.
The current map’s Trainlink information is visually stronger than the regular train lines, due to their colour application, and therefore is easily confused with rail services. Evidence from respondents confirm that this misunderstanding is common. The proposed map design solves this problem by making Trainlink services appear as an outline rather than a solid line, which visually differentiates this information quite strongly from rail services, avoiding confusion.
6.10 Additional service information
Action: Add the display of consequential information that relates to the major services on the map.
Reason: The absence of such information may leave the user with a false idea of journey planning.
The regularity of services between Eagle Junction and Doomben, and also between Caboolture and Nambour is quite low, and often replaced by Trainlink services. This is not apparent at all on the current map. The proposed map displays this significant information by placing a grey outline around each of these areas of the lines (graphically referencing Trainlink services).
The rail service that goes from Yeerongpilly via Tennyson to Corinda (and on to Oxley and concluding at Darra) every so often on weekdays was difficult to include because of the fact that it is only a limited service, and therefore does not warrant to be emphasised as much as the other lines, but also because there was also a Trainlink service that ran along the same path. The proposed map solves this specific problem by using an outline to associate it with Trainline services, and signifies that it is also a part of the Ipswich rail services by making the outline green, the same colour as the Ipswich line.
One thing that was notices when researching Queensland Rail timetables was that almost always, trains that would travel along the Ipswich line would terminate at Ipswich, and to get to Rosewood you would then have to change trains to use a completely separate service that only operates between Ipswich and Rosewood. The visual properties of the current Citytrain map does not show this. The proposed map design gives a visual reference to this by indicating a change between these two stations by placing breaks in the line.
The current Citytrain map has no indication of any of this information, although this information could become quite consequential to one’s journey planning.
6.11 Future development
Action: The proposed map has been designed on a workable grid, with the application of a logical system of rules.
Reason: Further development or extensions to Queensland Rail services could be easily be included in the proposed map. The grid system has clear rules, which means that the entire map has a uniform appearance, and any further extensions or changes to services will adhere to this uniform appearance.
6.12 Exhibition line
Action: Remove the display of the Exhibition service from the map.
Reason: Because it is irrelevant to most passengers for the majority of the year.
The service runs only one week in fifty two. This information could be included in an Ekka brochure of some kind, delivering the information to those who are actually going to benefit from the knowledge of such a service.
6.13 Larger scale survey
Action: It is recommended that a larger scale survey is performed.
Reason: This research was only a pilot study.
This survey included only 50 respondents and should therefore be considered as a pilot study only. It is recommended that a larger study is undertaken to confirm the results given in this report are accurate.
Bibliography
Bertin, J. (1983) ‘Semiology of Graphics: Diagrams, Networks, Maps’ University of Wisconsin: Madison Wisconsin, USA.
Jacobson, R. (1997) ‘Information Design’ MIT Press: Cambridge. Massachusetts, USA.
Mijksenaar, P. (1997) ‘Visual Function: An Introdiction to Information Design’ M010 Publishers: Rotterdam.
Queensland Rail (2002) ‘Queensland Rail’ Available World Wide Web: URL: http://www.qr.com.au (Accessed May, 2002).
Queensland Rail Citytrain map design (2002).
Queensland Rail Beenleigh Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Cleveland Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Doomben Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Ferny Grove Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Gold Coast Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Ipswich Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Shorncliffe Timetable (2002).
Queensland Rail Sunshine Coast Timetable (2002).
Tufte, E. (1992) ‘Envisioning Information’ Graphics Press: Cheshire, Connecticut.
Tufte, E. (1996) ‘Visual Explanations’ Graphics Press: Cheshire, Connecticut.
Wurman, R. (1996) ‘Information Architects’ Graphis Press: Zurich.
Wildbur, P. & Burke, M. (1998) ‘Information Graphics: Innovative Solutions in Contemporary Design’ Thames & Hudson.
Appendices
Figure 1 Current map (2002).
Figure 2 Proposed map design.
In memoriam
Donald Welch was my favourite lecturer from my design studies at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. He taught me so many of the things that I now know about information design and typography. I wish I had communicated my gratitude to him more while he was still with us. For everything he taught me, along with helping me to write and submit the above report. He will be dearly missed.
