The New Logo for the UK's National Rail Body is Shown.
The administration has unveiled the branding for the new national rail body, signifying a notable move in its policy to bring the railways under public control.
An National Design and Familiar Emblem
The fresh design features a patriotic palette to echo the UK flag and will be rolled out on rolling stock, at terminals, and across its online presence.
Significantly, the symbol is the well-known double-arrow logo presently used by the national rail network and previously created in the 1960s for British Rail.
The Rollout Timeline
The phased introduction of the new look, which was designed in-house, is scheduled to occur over time.
Commuters are scheduled to begin seeing the freshly-liveried trains on the UK rail network from the coming spring.
During December, the design will be exhibited at key railway stations, such as London Bridge.
A Path to Renationalisation
The Railways Bill, which will enable the creation of Great British Railways, is presently progressing through the legislative process.
The government has stated it is taking control of the railways so the service is "run by the people, working for the people, not for private shareholders."
GBR will consolidate the running of passenger trains and infrastructure under one umbrella body.
The government has said it will merge seventeen various bodies and "cut through the notorious administrative hurdles and accountability gap that hinders the railways."
App-Based Services and Existing Ownership
The launch of GBR will also include a new app, which will allow users to check schedules and reserve tickets without booking fees.
Disabled passengers will also be able to use the app to arrange support.
Several operators had previously been nationalised under the previous administration, such as TPE.
There are now seven train operators now in state ownership, covering about a third of rail travel.
In the past year, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with more anticipated to be added in the coming years.
Official and Sector Response
"The new design isn't just a paint job," commented the Transport Secretary. It signifies "a fresh start, casting off the issues of the previous system and concentrated entirely on providing a proper passenger-focused service."
Rail representatives have responded positively to the government's commitment to improving services.
"The industry will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to facilitate a smooth changeover to GBR," one executive added.