🔗 Share this article A Fresh Identity for the UK's National Rail Body is Revealed. The UK government has disclosed the branding for the new national rail body, signifying a major step in its policy to take the railways under nationalisation. An National Design and Historic Emblem The fresh design showcases a Union Flag-inspired design to echo the Union Flag and will be applied on GBR trains, at stations, and across its digital platforms. Notably, the logo is the iconic twin-arrow symbol historically used by National Rail and originally introduced in the 1960s for British Rail. The iconic double-arrow emblem was previously used by the state-owned British Rail. The Introduction Plan The phased introduction of the new look, which was created internally, is scheduled to happen in phases. Passengers are expected to start noticing the newly-branded services throughout the national network from next spring. Throughout December, the design will be showcased at prominent stations, like Manchester Piccadilly. A Journey to Nationalisation The Railways Bill, which will enable the establishment of Great British Railways, is currently progressing through the House of Commons. The administration has said it is bringing back into public ownership the railways so the network is "run by the people, delivering for the people, not for private shareholders." Great British Railways will consolidate the operation of passenger trains and infrastructure under a unified structure. The department has said it will unify 17 various bodies and "cut through the frustrating red tape and poor accountability that hinders the railways." App-Based Features and Existing Ownership The rollout of GBR will also include a new app, which will enable customers to see schedules and book journeys free from booking fees. Accessibility travellers will also be able to use the application to arrange support. A mock up of how the GBR application could appear. Several operators had already been nationalised under the former administration, including TPE. There are currently seven operating companies now in state ownership, accounting for about a one-third of rail travel. In the last twelve months, Greater Anglia have been brought into public ownership, with further franchises expected to be added in the coming years. Official and Sector Comments "The new design is more than a paint job," commented the relevant minister. It represents "a new railway, casting off the issues of the past and concentrated completely on offering a genuine public service." Rail leaders have acknowledged the focus to improving the passenger experience. "The industry will continue to cooperate with industry partners to facilitate a smooth handover to GBR," a representative noted.