The Moquette Archive
HISTORICAL TRANSPORT FABRICS
For completeness, and to help people identify the fabrics they love, please see below our list of historic transport fabrics that we have stocked in the past but no longer carry.
33 numbered photographs · TfL, Rail, Bus and Coach · A single historical reference list
TfL & London Transport
London Overground – Priority Seating
Operator: London Overground
Era of use: 2007–present
London Underground – Bakerloo Line
Operator: London Underground / Bakerloo line
Era of use: 1990s–c.2012
Colindale (Leaf)
Operator: London Transport / London Underground
Era of use: 1938 stock era
Commissioned by Christian Barman; designed by Marion Dorn.
London Underground – D78 Stock (original)
Operator: London Underground / District line
Era of use: 1970s–1980s
Used in D stock trains.
Fossil (Trilobite)
Operator: London Underground / Metropolitan line
Era of use: 1950s
Design attributed to Richard Eatough and Jack Thompson.
London Underground – D78 Stock (later variant)
Operator: London Underground / District line
Era of use: Late 1990s–2016
A different D78 moquette, also used in D stock trains.
Metropolitan Line – Triangles
Operator: London Underground / Metropolitan line
Era of use: 2004–2012
Used on A stock trains.
New Bus for London
Operator: TfL / London Buses
Era of use: 2012–c.2024
Used on New Routemaster (“Boris Bus”) vehicles. Withdrawal/reupholstery date approximate.
TfL Rail
Operator: TfL Rail / London Liverpool Street–Shenfield
Era of use: May 2015–May 2022
Similar pattern to the later Elizabeth line moquette, but in different colours. The services were incorporated into the Elizabeth line.
Blue Barman
Operator: London Underground / Northern line
Era of use: 2013–present
Associated with the refurbishment of Northern line 1995 stock in 2013–2015.
Jubilee Line – Priority Seating (Barman)
Operator: London Underground / Jubilee line
Era of use: 2010s–present
Rail & Metro
British Rail – Provincial Blue
Operator: British Rail / Provincial & Regional Railways
Era of use: 1983–2003
Also used extensively in Ireland.
Network SouthEast – Blue Donkey Stripe
Operator: British Rail / Network SouthEast
Era of use: 1986–c.2002
British Rail – Classic Square Blue
Operator: British Rail
Era of use: 1960s–2002
Originally introduced for non-smoking compartments.
British Rail – Candy Stripe
Operator: British Rail
Era of use: Late 1950s–early 1960s
British Rail InterCity – Red Dogger
Operator: British Rail / InterCity
Era of use: c.1976–c.1990
Used in InterCity high-speed trains with Mk3 carriages.
Birmingham Tram – City Shield
Operator: Midland Metro / West Midlands Metro
Era of use: 1999–c.2015
First Midland Metro services began 30 May 1999.
Silverlink Trains
Operator: Silverlink / subsequently London Overground
Era of use: 1997–c.2009
South West Trains – First Class Blue Timetable
Operator: South West Trains / South Western Railway
Era of use: c.1996–c.2025
Northern Rail
Operator: Northern Rail / Northern
Era of use: 2010s–present
Strathclyde Metro – Blue/Green Variant
Operator: Strathclyde Metro (operator to verify)
Era of use: To confirm
Wessex Rail
Operator: Wessex Trains / successor services
Era of use: c.2001–c.2010
Wessex Trains operated 2001–2006; fabric may have continued after the franchise ended.
South West Trains – Red Timetable
Operator: South West Trains / South Western Railway
Era of use: c.1996–c.2025
Irish Rail – Mk2 Carriages
Operator: Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann
Era of use: 1972–2008 (Mk2 fleet)
Used mainly in Mark 2 carriages. Dates are for the fleet; exact fabric introduction is unverified.
Porterbrook Purple
Operator: Porterbrook
Era of use: c.2000–2020
Porterbrook Blue
Operator: Porterbrook
Era of use: c.2000–2020
Virgin West Coast – Mk3 Second Class
Operator: Virgin Trains West Coast
Era of use: c.1997–2019 (operator era)
Original fabric swatch from Shed Number 2’s lookbook. Mk3 Second Class attribution and dates remain to be confirmed.
Bus
Lothian Buses
Operator: Lothian Buses / Edinburgh
Era of use: To confirm
City Sightseeing
Operator: City Sightseeing
Era of use: 2000s–present (design)
The design remains in use, although the moquette is no longer fitted.
Sydney Bus Moquette
Operator: Sydney bus services
Era of use: c.2000–2020
Dallas Buses
Operator: Dallas bus services
Era of use: To confirm
Lothian Buses
Operator: Lothian Buses / Edinburgh
Era of use: 1980s–present (TBC)
Coach
Delaine Coaches – Red Tartan
Operator: Delaine Coaches / Delaine Buses
Era of use: At least 2021–present
Delaine’s origins date to 1890. Red tartan moquette was specified on new buses in 2021 and 2025.
Do you remember these fabrics?
If you remember where these fabrics were used, or can correct any details, please contact Shed No. 2 and quote the photograph number.
Any fabrics you’d like us to add to the list? Let us know.