‘This isn’t just a paint job – it represents a new railway’
(Image: Department for Transport)
A new look for trains all over the country has been unveiled as plans to bring rail services under public control take another step forward. The branding for Great British Railways, which will start to appear on trains in England from next spring, has been revealed.
The design features a red, white and blue colour scheme and sharp angles to mirror the Union Flag. The new logo, which features the double arrow symbol in a nod to Britain’s proud railway heritage, and livery will gradually be rolled out on trains under public control.
It comes as the government’s plans to nationalise rail services progress with landmark legislation due to be debated in Parliament on Tuesday (December 9). Some rail operators are already under public control, including Northern and TransPennine Express while other services, such as those run by Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry, are expected to return to public ownership by the end of 2027.
All of these rail services will eventually be part of Great British Railways. However, not all train operators will carry the same branding.
Rail services that are run by devolved administrations, such as ScotRail, Transport for Wales and MerseyRail. This means that some rail services in Greater Manchester could take on the yellow branding of the Bee Network as they join the local public transport system.
Last year, Andy Burnham shared images of what trains under the Bee Network might look like(Image: TfGM/Andy Burnham via X)
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has already set out his vision to bring commuter rail services across the city-region under the Bee Network with eight lines and 96 stations identified. These trains are expected to carry the bright yellow Bee Network livery.
However, most rail services connecting Greater Manchester to other parts of the country are set to be part of Great British Railways. The Railways Bill, which is being debated in the House of Commons this week, will create the organisation which will run the railways.
Bringing together 17 different organisations, Great British Railways will be responsible for maintaining and improving the railways. The government says that the move means that fares and ticketing will be brought into the 21st century, including with a new app.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”
Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly will be able to see the new design on digital displays and posters across these stations this week. It will then begin to appear across a number of publicly owned train operators from next spring with the rollout set to be ‘gradual’.