A New Branding for Great British Railways is Unveiled.
The UK government has disclosed the branding for GBR, marking a key step in its agenda to bring the railways into public ownership.
A National Colour Scheme and Familiar Symbol
The new livery features a patriotic palette to echo the national flag and will be used on GBR trains, at stations, and across its online presence.
Significantly, the symbol is the well-known twin-arrow design historically used by the national rail network and originally introduced in the 1960s for British Rail.
A Implementation Timeline
The rollout of the design, which was designed by the department, is set to take place over time.
Passengers are expected to begin spotting the newly-branded trains throughout the network from spring next year.
In the month of December, the visuals will be exhibited at key railway stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly.
The Journey to Nationalisation
The Railways Bill, which will allow the formation of Great British Railways, is currently progressing through the legislative process.
The administration has stated it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the service is "run by the public, operating for the public, not for profit."
The new body will unify the operation of train services and infrastructure under a unified structure.
The department has claimed it will combine 17 various organisations and "reduce the problematic administrative hurdles and poor accountability that has long affected the railways."
Digital Features and Current Ownership
The rollout of GBR will also feature a new app, which will allow customers to see timetables and purchase tickets free from surcharges.
Accessibility travellers will also be have the option to use the app to arrange assistance.
A number of franchises had earlier been nationalised under the outgoing administration, including Southeastern.
There are currently seven train operators now in state ownership, covering about a third of passenger trips.
In the past year, c2c have been nationalised, with further franchises expected to be added in the coming years.
Official and Industry Comments
"This isn't just a cosmetic change," stated the relevant minister. It symbolises "a fresh start, leaving behind the problems of the previous system and concentrated entirely on delivering a proper passenger-focused service."
Industry representatives have welcomed the focus to bettering services.
"We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless changeover to GBR," a senior figure said.
