A Fresh Logo for Great British Railways is Unveiled.
The government has revealed the logo and livery for GBR, signifying a notable move in its strategy to take the railways under public control.
A National Palette and Iconic Symbol
The new livery features a patriotic palette to mirror the Union Flag and will be used on GBR trains, at terminals, and across its online presence.
Notably, the logo is the iconic double-arrow design currently used by National Rail and previously designed in the mid-20th century for the former state operator.
A Rollout Plan
The implementation of the design, which was designed in-house, is set to happen gradually.
Commuters are set to begin noticing the newly-branded services across the national network from the coming spring.
Throughout December, the branding will be showcased at key railway stations, including Manchester Piccadilly.
A Journey to Renationalisation
The Railways Bill, which will pave the way the formation of GBR, is presently moving through the Parliament.
The government has argued it is renationalising the railways so the service is "owned by the public, operating for the passengers, not for profit."
Great British Railways will unify the operation of train services and tracks and signals under a single organisation.
The department has said it will combine seventeen different organisations and "eliminate the problematic administrative hurdles and lack of accountability that continues to plague the railways."
App-Based Services and Current Public Control
The rollout of Great British Railways will also include a new mobile application, which will enable customers to view timetables and book tickets free from additional fees.
Disabled passengers will also be able to use the application to book assistance.
Multiple operators had already been taken into public control under the outgoing administration, including Southeastern.
There are currently seven operating companies now in state ownership, accounting for about a one-third of rail travel.
In the past year, Greater Anglia have been brought into public ownership, with more expected to follow in the coming years.
Ministerial and Industry Response
"The new design isn't just a new logo," stated the relevant minister. It symbolises "a fresh start, casting off the issues of the past and focused entirely on providing a proper service for the public."
Rail figures have acknowledged the focus to enhancing services.
"The industry will carry on to work closely with industry partners to ensure a seamless transition to GBR," a senior figure said.
