🔗 Share this article

The government has presented the visual identity for GBR, representing a significant move in its policy to take the railways under public control.

An Patriotic Colour Scheme and Historic Emblem

The updated livery features a red, white and blue colour scheme to represent the national flag and will be used on locomotives, at stations, and across its website and app.

Notably, the emblem is the distinctive double-arrow symbol historically used by the national rail network and originally designed in the 1960s for British Rail.

The Implementation Strategy

The introduction of the design, which was developed internally, is set to take place in phases.

Commuters are scheduled to begin seeing the newly-branded trains on the national network from the coming spring.

Throughout the month of December, the design will be exhibited at major stations, including Glasgow Central.

The Journey to Public Ownership

The Railways Bill, which will enable the formation of GBR, is currently moving through the House of Commons.

The government has stated it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the service is "run by the public, working for the people, not for private shareholders."

GBR will bring the running of train services and infrastructure under one umbrella body.

The department has claimed it will combine 17 various organisations and "cut through the problematic bureaucracy and accountability gap that hinders the railways."

App-Based Features and Current Ownership

The rollout of Great British Railways will also feature a dedicated mobile application, which will let customers to view timetables and purchase tickets free from additional fees.

Accessibility passengers will also be have the option to use the application to request assistance.

A number of operators had already been nationalised under the outgoing administration, including TPE.

There are now seven train operators now in public control, accounting for about a one-third of passenger trips.

In the past year, Greater Anglia have been brought into public ownership, with additional operators anticipated to be added in the coming years.

Ministerial and Sector Comments

"The new design isn't just a cosmetic change," stated the Transport Secretary. It represents "a transformed service, casting off the issues of the past and dedicated completely on offering a proper public service."

Industry leaders have responded positively to the government's commitment to improving the passenger experience.

"The industry will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure a successful changeover to Great British Railways," a representative added.