Michael Sheils McNameeBusiness reporter
Department for Transport
The government has unveiled its branding for Great British Railways (GBR), marking a step forward in plans to nationalise the railways.
In the past year, the government has taken three passenger rail franchises back into public control, something Labour promised in its manifesto.
The new livery and branding uses a red, white and blue colour scheme to mirror the Union Flag and will be used on GBR trains, at stations and on its website and app.
While the Budget included plans to freeze regulated rail fares in England next year, the government has previously said it cannot guarantee customers will see lower prices under renationalisation.
The rollout of the design, which was created in-house, is expected to take place gradually, with passengers beginning to see the trains across the national network from next spring.
Through December, the design will be displayed at stations, including London Bridge, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, Leeds City, and Manchester Piccadilly.
The Railways Bill, which will allow for the creation of GBR, is currently making its way through the House of Commons.
The government has said it is renationalising the railways so it is “owned by the public, delivering for the public, not for private shareholders”.
GBR will bring the running of passenger trains and infrastructure under one umbrella body. The government has said it will combine 17 different organisations and “cut through the frustrating bureaucracy and lack of accountability that continues to plague the railways”.
The rollout of GBR will also include an app, which will let customers check train times and book trains without booking fees. Disabled passengers will also be able to use the app to book assistance.
Department for Transport
A mock up of what the GBR app might look like
Several train companies had been nationalised under the previous Conservative government, including Northern, TPE, Southeastern and LNER.
There are now seven train operators already in public hands, accounting for about a third of journeys, with franchises being acquired as their contracts have expired.
In the past year Greater Anglia, South Western Railway and c2c have been nationalised, with more expected to follow in 2026.
The GBR logo is the distinctive double-arrow logo currently used by National Rail, which provides passenger information and tickets, and was created in the 1960s as the logo of British Rail – the state-owned company which previously operated Britain’s railways.
Getty Images
The double-arrow logo was previously used by British Rail
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said that the new design “isn’t just a paint job”, and that it represents “a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers”.
Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive of Rail Delivery Group – a collection of Britain’s train operators – welcomed the government’s commitment to improving services for customers.
“We will continue to work closely with industry partners to support a smooth transition to Great British Railways,” she said.
Department for Transport
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