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The administration has unveiled the visual identity for GBR, marking a significant move in its agenda to take the railways back into state hands.

An Patriotic Palette and Familiar Symbol

The updated livery showcases a red, white and blue palette to represent the UK flag and will be rolled out on locomotives, at stations, and across its website and app.

Interestingly, the logo is the well-known twin-arrow symbol historically used by National Rail and originally designed in the 1960s for British Rail.

The Introduction Timeline

The rollout of the new look, which was created internally, is scheduled to take place in phases.

Travellers are set to start noticing the newly-branded services on the UK rail network from the coming spring.

In the month of December, the branding will be displayed at prominent railway stations, including Glasgow Central.

A Path to Nationalisation

The legislation, which will allow the formation of GBR, is presently making its way through the legislative process.

The government has argued it is renationalising the railways so the network is "run by the people, working for the passengers, not for profit."

Great British Railways will consolidate the running of train services and infrastructure under one umbrella body.

The government has claimed it will unify seventeen separate organisations and "eliminate the problematic administrative hurdles and poor accountability that continues to plague the railways."

App-Based Services and Existing Ownership

The rollout of GBR will also involve a new mobile application, which will enable passengers to view timetables and reserve journeys absent additional fees.

Disabled users will also be have the option to use the app to arrange assistance.

Several operators had earlier been nationalised under the outgoing administration, such as Northern.

There are now 7 train operators already in state ownership, accounting for about a third of rail travel.

In the past year, South Western Railway have been brought into public ownership, with additional operators anticipated to follow in the coming years.

Ministerial and Industry Reaction

"The new design isn't just a new logo," said the relevant minister. It symbolises "a transformed service, casting off the issues of the previous system and focused entirely on offering a reliable service for the public."

Industry figures have responded positively to the pledge to improving services.

"The industry will carry on to work closely with industry partners to facilitate a successful changeover to GBR," a senior figure noted.