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The Transport Department has introduced the branding for GBR, constituting a key advance in its policy to bring the railways under public control.

An Patriotic Design and Iconic Emblem

The new livery uses a Union Flag-inspired colour scheme to echo the Union Flag and will be applied on locomotives, at railway stations, and across its website and app.

Significantly, the emblem is the well-known twin-arrow symbol historically used by National Rail and first introduced in the mid-20th century for British Rail.

A Rollout Strategy

The phased introduction of the new look, which was created by the department, is expected to happen in phases.

Commuters are set to begin seeing the newly-branded services on the UK rail network from the coming spring.

In December, the visuals will be exhibited at key railway stations, such as Birmingham New Street.

The Journey to Nationalisation

The Railways Bill, which will pave the way the creation of GBR, is presently progressing through the House of Commons.

The administration has stated it is renationalising the railways so the system is "owned by the passengers, working for the people, not for corporate interests."

GBR will unify the running of train services and tracks and signals under a single organisation.

The department has claimed it will combine 17 separate organisations and "reduce the problematic administrative hurdles and accountability gap that continues to plague the railways."

App-Based Services and Existing Public Control

The introduction of Great British Railways will also involve a new mobile application, which will let users to see schedules and book journeys without booking fees.

Accessibility passengers will also be have the option to use the app to request help.

Multiple train companies had earlier been taken into public control under the outgoing government, such as TPE.

There are now 7 train operators already in state ownership, accounting for about a one-third of passenger trips.

In the past year, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with more expected to be added in the coming years.

Ministerial and Sector Response

"The new design isn't just a cosmetic change," said the relevant minister. It represents "a new railway, leaving behind the issues of the past and concentrated entirely on providing a proper service for the public."

Rail representatives have acknowledged the pledge to bettering services.

"We will carry on to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth changeover to the new system," a representative added.