Passengers are getting their first glimpse of the future of Britain’s railways as the Great British Railways brand is unveiled, coinciding with the debate on the landmark Railways Bill in Parliament.
The government is reforming a fragmented rail system by bringing train operators back into public ownership, creating a single organisation to run Britain’s railways for the first time in decades. Seven major operators are already publicly owned, covering one-third of all passenger journeys.
The new GBR design features a red, white and blue colour scheme with sharp angles inspired by the Union Flag, alongside the iconic double arrow symbol, paying tribute to Britain’s proud railway heritage. From next spring, the branding will appear on trains, stations, websites, and ticketing apps, uniting the network under one public-owned identity.
The Railways Bill will merge 17 organisations into GBR, cutting bureaucracy and improving accountability. GBR will modernise fares and ticketing, introduce a new app for best-price tickets without booking fees, and strengthen passenger rights through an empowered watchdog.
Progress is already visible across publicly-owned operators:
- South Western Railway has quadrupled its new Arterio trains, boosting capacity by nearly 10%.
- LNER is adding 10,000 extra services annually, meaning 60,000 more seats each week.
- Southeastern Railway has invested £2 million in advanced video technology to detect and fix faults faster.
The GBR ticketing app will also allow Passenger Assist bookings, creating a seamless experience for disabled passengers.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented:
“The future of Britain’s railways begins today. I’m immensely proud to unveil the new look for Great British Railways as we deliver landmark legislation to nationalise our trains and reform the railway so it better serves passengers.
“This isn’t just a paint job – it represents a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers.
“With fares frozen, a bold new look and fundamental reforms becoming law, we are building a railway Britain can rely on and be proud of.”
The rollout begins next spring across publicly-owned operators, designed in-house to maximise value for money and start the journey of simplifying Britain’s railways for passengers.
Image credit: Department for Transport
