I've been looking into the specifics of using the operator tag as an approach to deciding icons for rail stations. I've also been thinking about this relates to the information I am actually trying to get/communicate here-- the particular problem I am hoping to solve is essentially one of branding. This is definitely related to operators and networks, but not always clearly or consistently.
I wonder if a more direct approach is possible. OpenStreetMap has a well-used brand tag for identity information that doesn't fit as 'name' or 'operator'. I see it used a lot in the case of Deutsche Post, another situation where the well-known branding of a nationalized system was kept fairly similar after privatization. In the previous thread it was mentioned that many people don't commonly refer to any part of the system as 'National Rail', but it seems that is the official name for the double-arrow brand used on signage and maps. The Wikipedia page for National Rail says that ATOC claims 'National Rail' is not a 'brand', but rather has been designed "to explain to rail travellers that there is a National Railway network and material carrying this descriptor covers all passenger Train Companies." That sounds rather brand-like to me, even if they don't want to refer to it that way. The Wikipedia page for ATOC does refer to 'National Rail' as a brand (saying that ATOC "owns the National Rail brand"). So what I'm wondering is, could 'brand=National Rail' be an appropriate tag for stations that would be marked with the double arrow in signs, etc? References: - <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rail> - <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Train_Operating_Companies> - <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Post_(brand)> -- AJ Ashton _______________________________________________ Talk-GB mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
