Great British Railways brand and logo revealed

The government has revealed its branding for Great British Railways (GBR), marking a step forward in plans to nationalize the railways.

Last year the government brought three rail concessions back under public control, something the Labor Party promised in its manifesto.

The new livery and branding uses a red, white and blue color scheme to reflect the Union flag and will be used on GBR trains, in stations and on its website and app.

While the budget included plans to freeze rail fares next year, the government has previously said it cannot guarantee customers will see lower prices under renationalisation.

Implementation of the design, which was created in-house, is expected to take place gradually and passengers will begin seeing the trains across the national network from next spring.

Until December, the design will be displayed at stations including London Bridge, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, Leeds City and Manchester Piccadilly.

The Railways Bill, which will allow for the creation of GBR, is currently pending in the House of Commons.

The government has said it is renationalising the railways so that they are “owned by the public and run for the public, not private shareholders”.

The GBR launch will also include an app that will allow customers to check train timetables and book trains with no booking fees. Disabled passengers will also be able to use the app to book assistance.

Seven train operators are already in public hands, accounting for around a third of journeys, and franchises are acquired when their contracts have expired.

Franchises that were nationalized last year include Greater Anglia, South Western Railway and c2c, with more expected to follow in 2026.

The GBR logo is the distinctive double arrow logo currently used by National Rail, which looks after Britain’s railway infrastructure, and was created in the 1960s as the logo of British Rail, the state-owned company that formerly operated British railways.

Transportation Secretary Heidi Alexander said the new design is “not just a paint job” and represents “a new railway that discards the frustrations of the past and focuses entirely on providing adequate public service to passengers.”

Jacqueline Starr, executive chairman and chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, a group of British train operators, welcomed the government’s commitment to improving services for customers.

“We will continue to work closely with industry partners to support a smooth transition to Great British Railways,” he said.