🔗 Share this article

The Transport Department has unveiled the logo and livery for Great British Railways, marking a significant advance in its strategy to take the railways under nationalisation.

An Patriotic Palette and Iconic Logo

The updated livery features a patriotic colour scheme to echo the Union Flag and will be rolled out on locomotives, at railway stations, and across its online presence.

Significantly, the symbol is the well-known double-arrow logo presently used by National Rail and first created in the 1960s for British Rail.

The Implementation Strategy

The implementation of the branding, which was created by the department, is set to occur gradually.

Commuters are set to begin spotting the freshly-liveried services on the national network from the coming spring.

Throughout the month of December, the branding will be displayed at key railway stations, like Glasgow Central.

A Path to Public Ownership

The legislation, which will allow the establishment of Great British Railways, is presently progressing through the House of Commons.

The government has stated it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the network is "run by the passengers, delivering for the passengers, not for profit."

GBR will unify the running of passenger trains and tracks and signals under one umbrella body.

The department has said it will combine seventeen different bodies and "cut through the problematic bureaucracy and poor accountability that hinders the railways."

App-Based Services and Current Public Control

The rollout of Great British Railways will also include a comprehensive mobile application, which will enable passengers to check train times and purchase tickets without booking fees.

Passengers with disabilities travellers will also be have the option to use the app to arrange assistance.

Multiple franchises had already been nationalised under the former administration, such as LNER.

There are now 7 operating companies already in public hands, representing about a third of journeys.

In the last twelve months, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with more expected to be added in the coming years.

Official and Sector Comments

"This is more than a paint job," stated the relevant minister. It symbolises "a fresh start, shedding the issues of the previous system and concentrated completely on offering a genuine passenger-focused service."

Industry figures have responded positively to the focus to bettering the passenger experience.

"We will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to support a seamless handover to the new system," a representative said.