The government has formally unveiled the branding for Great British Railways (GBR), marking a significant step in its plans to bring Britain’s railways back into public ownership after decades of private operation.
The new branding, featuring a red, white and blue colour palette reflecting the Union Flag, will be rolled out across trains, stations and digital platforms as the new public body gradually takes control of rail services.
Ministers say the design represents more than a visual refresh, framing it as a symbol of a reformed railway system focused on public service rather than shareholder returns. The branding has been developed in-house by the Department for Transport.
Over the past year, three major rail franchises have been returned to public control as their contracts expired. This follows a central pledge in Labour’s election manifesto to renationalise passenger rail services.
Greater Anglia, South Western Railway and c2c are among the operators brought into public ownership since last year. In total, seven train operators are now publicly run, accounting for roughly a third of all rail journeys in Britain.
More franchises are expected to follow from 2026 onwards, with the transition taking place as existing operating contracts reach their natural end, avoiding large compensation payments to private firms.
Central to the new identity is the continued use of the distinctive double-arrow logo, long associated with Britain’s railways. First introduced in the 1960s for British Rail, the symbol remains widely recognised by passengers.
Today, the logo is already used by National Rail to provide passenger information and ticketing services, linking the new public operator with the rail network’s historical roots.
Passengers will begin to see the new GBR branding from next spring, when trains carrying the updated livery start appearing on the national network. The rollout will be gradual to limit costs.
In the meantime, the design will be showcased during December at some of the country’s busiest stations, including London Bridge, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, Leeds City and Manchester Piccadilly.
Alongside the visual identity, Great British Railways will introduce a new mobile app designed to unify services currently spread across multiple operators and platforms.
The app will allow customers to check train times, buy tickets without booking fees and access real-time journey information. Disabled passengers will also be able to pre-book assistance directly through the service.
The government says the app aims to simplify travel and reduce confusion caused by a fragmented system, where passengers currently navigate different ticketing rules and operator websites.
While the latest Budget included plans to freeze rail fares next year, ministers have cautioned that renationalisation alone does not guarantee cheaper tickets in the long term.
Rising costs, ageing infrastructure and ongoing investment needs mean prices will continue to be influenced by wider economic pressures, officials say.
The legislative framework for the new body is moving forward, with the Railways Bill currently making its way through the House of Commons. The bill will formally establish Great British Railways.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the rebrand marked a decisive break with past frustrations experienced by passengers. She described it as the foundation of “a new railway” built around reliability and service quality.
Industry figures have broadly welcomed the clarity provided by the government’s plans. Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said the sector would work closely to ensure a smooth transition.
For ministers, the branding launch signals momentum behind a major structural reform of Britain’s railways, aiming to create a simpler, publicly owned network delivering consistent standards across the country.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
