Passengers are being given their first look at the future of the UK rail network as the government today unveiled the official branding for Great British Railways (GBR) and confirmed major reforms are progressing through Parliament.
The move comes as the Railways Bill is debated in the House of Commons and follows the government’s recent announcement of a freeze on rail fares – the first in 30 years – in a bid to ease pressure on household budgets.
Rail Network Brought Into Public Ownership
Ministers say the shake-up marks a decisive step towards fixing what they describe as a “fragmented and broken” system. Seven major rail operators are already back in public hands, representing around a third of all passenger journeys in Great Britain.
GBR will consolidate 17 different organisations into a single public body for the first time in decades, aiming to cut bureaucracy, improve accountability and modernise the way rail services are run.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“The future of Britain’s railways begins today. I’m immensely proud to unveil the new look for Great British Railways as we deliver landmark legislation to nationalise our trains and reform the railway so it better serves passengers.”
“This isn’t just a paint job – it represents a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service.”
New Branding: Red, White and Blue Rail Revival
The new GBR design – featuring sharp angles and a red, white and blue colour scheme inspired by the Union Flag – will begin appearing from next spring on trains, websites, stations and signage.
The identity includes a refreshed version of the iconic double-arrow logo, paying tribute to Britain’s rail heritage.
The branding will also be integrated into a new GBR ticketing app, set to offer passengers a one-stop shop for journey planning, best-price fares and fee-free booking. Disabled passengers will be able to arrange Passenger Assist directly through the app.
Early Progress on the Publicly-Run Network
Government says improvements are already being delivered across publicly owned operators:
- South Western Railway has quadrupled its new Arterio fleet, boosting capacity by nearly 10%.
- LNER is rolling out a new East Coast Mainline timetable adding 10,000 extra services a year, equal to 60,000 more seats each week.
- Southeastern Railway has invested £2 million in advanced video and camera technology to detect faults faster.
GBR will be responsible for maintaining and improving the network, modernising fares and ticketing, and supporting wider economic growth by unlocking new housing and jobs.
Public Launch at Major Stations
The GBR brand is being showcased today at London Bridge station, featuring a special one-day exhibit including a GBR-themed Hornby model and a demonstration within the Train Sim World 6 game.
Digital displays showing the new design will also appear this week at Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, Manchester Piccadilly, Leeds City and other major stations.
The rollout across operators will begin gradually next spring, with the design created in-house to minimise costs.
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