Key Highlights
- The government has unveiled a new design for trains owned by Great British Railways (GBR), featuring a Union flag-inspired logo.
- A special one-day public exhibition of the new train livery will be held at London Bridge station on December 8, 2025.
- MPs are set to debate rail nationalisation in Parliament on Tuesday, as part of the Railways Bill.
- The logo for GBR and the organisation itself will be formally established by 2027.
New Train Design and Great British Railways Logo Unveiled
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has unveiled a “striking” new design for UK trains that will begin to adopt from spring. The design is part of the government’s efforts to nationalise most passenger rail services in the UK under the new GBR brand.
Union Flag-Inspired Design
The new design features a Union flag-inspired logo, which aims to reflect “Britain’s proud railway heritage.” According to Alexander, it is not just a paint job but represents a new railway that will cast off past frustrations and focus on delivering a proper public service for passengers. The logo has been unveiled alongside the new train livery.
Public Exhibition
A special one-day exhibit of the new GBR branding, including the train livery, will be held at London Bridge station on December 8, 2025. People in the capital will also have the opportunity to see a digital demonstration of the new artwork in Train Sim World 6, a game developed with support from a gaming company.
Timeline and Future Plans
The government has taken control of seven major operators, meaning that one-third of all rail journeys in the UK are now on state-owned trains. However, Labour’s plan is to return all passenger services to public ownership as contracts with existing operators expire or are broken through a failure to deliver.
Rayner, from the Labour Party, has been pushing for the passage of the Employment Rights Bill and has been combative in her approach during Commons debates. She has emphasized that nationalisation will be achieved “without costing taxpayers a penny in compensation.”
GBR App and Passenger Services
The draft Railways Bill includes measures to create a new one-stop shop app for Great British Railways, which will allow passengers to check train times and buy tickets without booking fees. Passengers with disabilities will also be able to request a Passenger Assist service through the app.
Accountability and Services
The government’s plan includes beefing up accountability by creating a strengthened Passenger Watchdog and operating services under GBR while maintaining the railways themselves. Improvements have been noted since re-nationalisation, such as South Western Railway increasing capacity by almost 10%.
Meanwhile, MPs are set to debate the Railways Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, with the government aiming to bring 17 different organisations together under GBR. The new logo and train livery represent a significant step towards this goal, signaling a return to state-owned rail services in the UK.
