🔗 Share this article The Updated Identity for GBR is Announced. The UK government has unveiled the branding for GBR, constituting a major advance in its plans to bring the railways into public ownership. An Patriotic Design and Historic Symbol The new branding uses a Union Flag-inspired palette to mirror the national flag and will be rolled out on GBR trains, at stations, and across its website and app. Notably, the logo is the iconic twin-arrow design presently used by the national rail network and originally designed in the mid-20th century for the former state operator. The iconic twin-arrow symbol was originally used by British Rail. The Implementation Plan The implementation of the new look, which was designed internally, is set to occur over time. Commuters are set to start noticing the newly-branded services throughout the network from the coming spring. Throughout the month of December, the design will be displayed at major stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly. The Journey to Nationalisation The legislation, which will pave the way the creation of Great British Railways, is presently moving through the House of Commons. The government has argued it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the system is "run by the public, delivering for the passengers, not for private shareholders." Great British Railways will consolidate the operation of train services and tracks and signals under a single organisation. The department has claimed it will unify 17 various organisations and "reduce the problematic red tape and poor accountability that hinders the railways." Digital Features and Existing Ownership The introduction of GBR will also include a dedicated mobile application, which will enable customers to view train times and purchase tickets absent additional fees. Passengers with disabilities travellers will also be able to use the application to book help. A mock up of what the GBR application could appear. Several franchises had earlier been nationalised under the former government, such as Northern. There are now seven train operators now in state ownership, covering about a third of passenger trips. In the past year, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with additional operators anticipated to follow in 2026. Ministerial and Sector Comments "This is not simply a cosmetic change," said the Transport Secretary. It symbolises "a new railway, shedding the issues of the previous system and dedicated entirely on offering a proper passenger-focused service." Industry representatives have responded positively to the government's commitment to improving the passenger experience. "We will continue to collaborate with industry partners to support a successful changeover to GBR," a senior figure added.