A Fresh Identity for Great British Railways is Announced.
The administration has presented the branding for the new national rail body, constituting a key advance in its strategy to take the railways under public control.
An Patriotic Design and Iconic Logo
The fresh design incorporates a red, white and blue design to represent the national flag and will be rolled out on GBR trains, at stations, and across its website and app.
Significantly, the emblem is the recognisable twin-arrow logo presently used by National Rail and originally designed in the 1960s for British Rail.
The Introduction Strategy
The introduction of the design, which was developed in-house, is scheduled to take place over time.
Commuters are expected to start seeing the freshly-liveried services across the network from the coming spring.
Throughout December, the design will be showcased at major stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly.
The Journey to Renationalisation
The proposed law, which will enable the formation of Great British Railways, is presently progressing through the legislative process.
The administration has said it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the system is "run by the people, operating for the passengers, not for corporate interests."
The new body will consolidate the operation of train services and infrastructure under a unified structure.
The government has stated it will merge 17 separate entities and "reduce the frustrating red tape and accountability gap that hinders the railways."
Digital Features and Existing Public Control
The rollout of GBR will also feature a new app, which will enable customers to view timetables and purchase journeys absent booking fees.
Passengers with disabilities passengers will also be have the option to use the app to book help.
Several operators had already been taken into public control under the outgoing administration, such as Northern.
There are now seven train operators already in public hands, covering about a third of rail travel.
In the last twelve months, South Western Railway have been nationalised, with more anticipated to follow in the coming years.
Official and Sector Reaction
"The new design is more than a paint job," stated the relevant minister. It represents "a fresh start, casting off the problems of the past and focused entirely on offering a genuine public service."
Industry figures have acknowledged the government's commitment to bettering the passenger experience.
"We will continue to work closely with relevant bodies to support a seamless handover to GBR," one executive noted.