A New Branding for Great British Railways is Unveiled.
The UK government has disclosed the branding for GBR, constituting a major step in its policy to take the railways under public control.
An National Design and Historic Symbol
The fresh livery features a patriotic colour scheme to mirror the UK flag and will be rolled out on locomotives, at stations, and across its digital platforms.
Significantly, the emblem is the distinctive double-arrow logo presently used by the national rail network and previously designed in the 1960s for British Rail.
A Rollout Timeline
The implementation of the design, which was designed in-house, is scheduled to occur gradually.
Travellers are set to begin seeing the freshly-liveried services throughout the UK rail network from the coming spring.
Throughout the month of December, the branding will be displayed at major railway stations, like London Bridge.
The Path to Nationalisation
The legislation, which will allow the formation of GBR, is presently moving through the legislative process.
The administration has stated it is taking control of the railways so the service is "owned by the passengers, delivering for the passengers, not for corporate interests."
The new body will bring the running of passenger trains and infrastructure under one umbrella body.
The department has stated it will merge seventeen separate entities and "reduce the notorious bureaucracy and accountability gap that continues to plague the railways."
Digital Features and Current Public Control
The launch of Great British Railways will also involve a dedicated app, which will allow passengers to view schedules and book journeys free from additional fees.
Disabled travellers will also be have the option to use the application to book support.
Multiple franchises had already been nationalised under the outgoing government, such as Southeastern.
There are currently seven train operators now in public hands, accounting for about a third of passenger trips.
In the past year, Greater Anglia have been nationalised, with further franchises likely to be added in the coming years.
Ministerial and Industry Response
"This is not simply a paint job," commented the relevant minister. It symbolises "a fresh start, shedding the problems of the past and concentrated entirely on offering a genuine service for the public."
Industry representatives have responded positively to the pledge to improving the passenger experience.
"We will carry on to cooperate with industry partners to ensure a seamless transition to GBR," a senior figure noted.
