🔗 Share this article The Fresh Branding for the UK's National Rail Body is Announced. The UK government has presented the visual identity for Great British Railways, signifying a significant advance in its policy to bring the railways under public control. An Patriotic Design and Iconic Emblem The updated livery showcases a red, white and blue design to mirror the UK flag and will be rolled out on locomotives, at railway stations, and across its online presence. Interestingly, the symbol is the recognisable double-arrow design presently used by National Rail and previously created in the mid-20th century for British Rail. The iconic twin-arrow emblem was formerly used by the state-owned British Rail. The Introduction Plan The rollout of the branding, which was created by the department, is set to take place gradually. Travellers are set to begin seeing the newly-branded trains throughout the UK rail network from the coming spring. Throughout December, the branding will be showcased at major stations, like Manchester Piccadilly. The Path to Renationalisation The Railways Bill, which will enable the establishment of GBR, is presently moving through the legislative process. The administration has said it is renationalising the railways so the network is "run by the people, operating for the passengers, not for corporate interests." The new body will unify the running of train services and infrastructure under a unified structure. The department has said it will unify 17 separate organisations and "eliminate the notorious administrative hurdles and lack of accountability that continues to plague the railways." App-Based Services and Existing Ownership The launch of Great British Railways will also involve a new mobile application, which will allow passengers to check schedules and purchase journeys without booking fees. Accessibility passengers will also be able to use the app to arrange assistance. A preview of what the Great British Railways app could look. Several train companies had already been taken into public control under the former government, such as LNER. There are now 7 operating companies now in state ownership, covering about a third of rail travel. In the past year, c2c have been brought into public ownership, with additional operators likely to be added in the coming years. Official and Sector Comments "This is not simply a paint job," stated the relevant minister. It signifies "a new railway, leaving behind the frustrations of the previous system and focused solely on providing a proper passenger-focused service." Industry figures have responded positively to the pledge to improving services. "We will carry on to cooperate with all stakeholders to facilitate a smooth handover to the new system," a senior figure added.