🔗 Share this article

The government has unveiled the visual identity for Great British Railways, marking a notable advance in its plans to take the railways into public ownership.

An Patriotic Colour Scheme and Historic Logo

The new design showcases a patriotic palette to represent the UK flag and will be rolled out on GBR trains, at railway stations, and across its digital platforms.

Interestingly, the logo is the well-known double-arrow symbol presently used by National Rail and previously introduced in the 1960s for British Rail.

A Rollout Plan

The rollout of the design, which was developed internally, is set to take place over time.

Passengers are scheduled to begin seeing the freshly-liveried services across the UK rail network from next spring.

In the month of December, the design will be displayed at key railway stations, like London Bridge.

A Journey to Nationalisation

The legislation, which will allow the establishment of GBR, is currently progressing through the Parliament.

The administration has said it is taking control of the railways so the system is "run by the passengers, working for the public, not for corporate interests."

The new body will unify the running of passenger trains and infrastructure under a single organisation.

The department has stated it will unify seventeen various entities and "eliminate the problematic red tape and lack of accountability that hinders the railways."

Digital Features and Current Ownership

The launch of GBR will also include a dedicated mobile application, which will enable passengers to see train times and reserve journeys without additional fees.

Disabled travellers will also be have the option to use the app to request support.

A number of franchises had earlier been taken into public control under the previous administration, including TPE.

There are currently 7 operating companies already in public control, accounting for about a one-third of journeys.

In the past year, Greater Anglia have been nationalised, with additional operators expected to be added in the coming years.

Ministerial and Industry Reaction

"The new design is more than a paint job," stated the Transport Secretary. It symbolises "a new railway, leaving behind the frustrations of the past and concentrated completely on delivering a reliable service for the public."

Industry leaders have acknowledged the focus to enhancing services.

"The industry will carry on to cooperate with industry partners to facilitate a smooth handover to the new system," one executive added.