Branding and logo for Great British Railways unveiled

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

In the past year, the government has taken three rail franchises back into public control, something Labour promised in its manifesto.

The new livery and branding uses a red, white and blue colour scheme to mirror the Union Flag and will be used on GBR trains, at 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.

The rollout of the design, which was created in-house, is expected to take place gradually, with passengers beginning to see the trains across the national network from next spring.

Through 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 making its way through the House of Commons.

The government has said it is renationalising the railways so it is “owned by the public, delivering for the public, not for private shareholders”.

The rollout of GBR will also include an app, which will let customers check train times and book trains without 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 about a third of journeys, with the franchises being acquired as their contracts have expired.

Franchises which have been nationalised in the past 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 rail infrastructure, and was created in the 1960s as the logo of British Rail – the state-owned company which previously operated Britain’s railways.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said that the new design “isn’t just a paint job”, and that it represents “a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers”.

Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive of Rail Delivery Group – a collection of Britain’s 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,” she said.