The UK government has unveiled the logo and livery for the new national rail body, marking a key step in its plans to bring the railways back into state hands.
A National Palette and Historic Logo
The fresh design uses a red, white and blue design to mirror the UK flag and will be applied on rolling stock, at railway stations, and across its website and app.
Interestingly, the symbol is the recognisable twin-arrow design currently used by National Rail and first introduced in the mid-20th century for British Rail.
The Introduction Plan
The rollout of the branding, which was created by the department, is set to take place gradually.
Commuters are scheduled to begin spotting the newly-branded trains on the national network from spring next year.
Throughout December, the visuals will be showcased at key stations, including London Bridge.
A Journey to Nationalisation
The proposed law, which will enable the creation of GBR, is currently making its way through the legislative process.
The government has said it is renationalising the railways so the network is "run by the public, operating for the passengers, not for private shareholders."
Great British Railways will consolidate the operation of train services and tracks and signals under a single organisation.
The department has claimed it will combine 17 different entities and "reduce the notorious red tape and accountability gap that has long affected the railways."
Digital Features and Current Ownership
The rollout of GBR will also feature a dedicated mobile application, which will allow passengers to see schedules and book journeys free from surcharges.
Accessibility users will also be able to use the application to request help.
A number of franchises had previously been taken into public control under the previous administration, including TPE.
There are currently 7 train operators already in public hands, representing about a third of passenger trips.
In the past year, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with more anticipated to be added in the coming years.
Official and Sector Comments
"This is more than a new logo," stated the Transport Secretary. It symbolises "a new railway, casting off the issues of the previous system and concentrated entirely on providing a genuine passenger-focused service."
Rail leaders have acknowledged the government's commitment to bettering the passenger experience.
"We will continue to work closely with relevant bodies to facilitate a successful transition to Great British Railways," a representative said.
