Branding and logo unveiled for Great British Railways

The Government has unveiled its branding and logo for Great British Railways (GBR), which will be headquartered in Derby.

The new livery and branding uses a red, white and blue colour scheme to mirror the Union Flag and will be used on GBR trains, at stations and on its website and app.

The GBR logo is the distinctive double-arrow logo currently used by National Rail, which provides journey, ticket and fare information, and was created in the 1960s as the logo of British Rail – the state-owned company which previously operated Britain’s railways.

The rollout of the design, which was created in-house, is expected to take place gradually, with passengers beginning to see the trains across the national network from next spring.

Meanwhile, The Railways Bill, which will allow for the creation of GBR, is currently making its way through the House of Commons.

GBR will bring the running of passenger trains and infrastructure under one umbrella body.

The Government has said it will combine 17 different organisations and “cut through the frustrating bureaucracy and lack of accountability that continues to plague the railways”.

GBR will be headquartered in Derby after the city won a national competition to find a location.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, who is the figurehead of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, said: “This is a huge boost for passengers not only in the East Midlands but across the country.

“For too long, our trains have been overcrowded, unreliable and confusing to navigate.

“Great British Railways will make journeys simpler, faster and fairer for everyone.

“Passengers here will be able to plan and pay for trips more easily with the app, while investment in new trains and improved services, backed by the decision to base Great British Railways’ headquarters in Derby, will mean more seats, more comfort and more reliable connections between our towns and cities.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”