🔗 Share this article The Fresh Identity for the UK's National Rail Body is Revealed. The Transport Department has introduced the branding for Great British Railways, signifying a significant step in its policy to take the railways under public control. An Patriotic Design and Iconic Emblem The new branding incorporates a red, white and blue colour scheme to represent the Union Flag and will be used on GBR trains, at terminals, and across its online presence. Significantly, the logo is the iconic twin-arrow logo presently used by the national rail network and originally introduced in the mid-20th century for the former state operator. The iconic twin-arrow logo was previously used by the state-owned British Rail. The Rollout Plan The phased introduction of the new look, which was designed internally, is expected to happen gradually. Commuters are expected to start noticing the freshly-liveried services throughout the national network from spring next year. Throughout December, the design will be showcased at prominent stations, including Leeds City. A Path to Renationalisation The Railways Bill, which will allow the formation of Great British Railways, is presently making its way through the House of Commons. The government has said it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the service is "run by the people, 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 "eliminate the problematic administrative hurdles and poor accountability that continues to plague the railways." App-Based Features and Current Public Control The introduction of Great British Railways will also include a new mobile application, which will enable customers to view train times and reserve tickets absent booking fees. Passengers with disabilities travellers will also be able to use the application to request help. A preview of how the GBR application could look. Several train companies had already been nationalised under the former administration, such as TPE. There are now seven operating companies now in state ownership, representing about a one-third of passenger trips. In the last twelve months, South Western Railway have been brought into public ownership, with further franchises expected to follow in the coming years. Official and Industry Reaction "The new design is more than a new logo," stated the Transport Secretary. It symbolises "a transformed service, shedding the problems of the previous system and dedicated solely on offering a proper public service." Rail representatives have acknowledged the pledge to bettering the passenger experience. "The industry will continue to cooperate with relevant bodies to ensure a smooth changeover to the new system," a representative noted.