🔗 Share this article A New Identity for Great British Railways is Revealed. The UK government has unveiled the branding for the new national rail body, signifying a notable advance in its strategy to take the railways into public ownership. An National Palette and Familiar Symbol The new branding features a patriotic colour scheme to reflect the national flag and will be rolled out on GBR trains, at stations, and across its online presence. Interestingly, the symbol is the recognisable twin-arrow design presently used by the national rail network and first created in the mid-20th century for British Rail. The famous twin-arrow logo was formerly used by British Rail. A Rollout Plan The phased introduction of the branding, which was created internally, is expected to take place gradually. Passengers are set to start seeing the newly-branded services on the national network from next spring. Throughout the month of December, the design will be exhibited at key railway stations, including Manchester Piccadilly. The Journey to Renationalisation The legislation, which will enable the formation of GBR, is currently making its way through the legislative process. The government has argued it is renationalising the railways so the service is "owned by the passengers, delivering for the passengers, not for private shareholders." Great British Railways will unify the running of train services and tracks and signals under a single organisation. The government has said it will merge seventeen different entities and "eliminate the problematic bureaucracy and lack of accountability that hinders the railways." App-Based Services and Existing Public Control The launch of GBR will also include a new app, which will let customers to view train times and purchase journeys free from booking fees. Accessibility travellers will also be able to use the app to request help. A mock up of how the Great British Railways application could appear. Several franchises had previously been taken into public control under the outgoing administration, such as LNER. There are now 7 operating companies already in public hands, covering about a one-third of rail travel. In the last twelve months, South Western Railway have been brought into public ownership, with more anticipated to follow in the coming years. Official and Industry Reaction "This isn't just a paint job," commented the relevant minister. It signifies "a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and concentrated entirely on offering a genuine service for the public." Rail figures have responded positively to the government's commitment to bettering services. "The industry will carry on to work closely with all stakeholders to support a seamless handover to Great British Railways," a senior figure noted.