Great British Railways Brand to Launch Amid Rail Nationalisation Debate
The Great British Railways (GBR) brand is set to be formally established in 2027 as part of the UK's ongoing rail nationalisation efforts. So far, seven major rail operators have been nationalised, with plans to unify 17 organisations under the forthcoming Railways Bill.
The GBR livery design prominently features a Union flag-inspired motif and incorporates the historic British Rail double-arrow symbol. The official logo is due to be unveiled soon. From spring 2026, publicly owned trains will adopt the GBR design, which has been described as more than just a new paint job, aiming instead to deliver a proper public service.
A special one-day exhibition at London Bridge will showcase the GBR-branded Hornby model, with digital demonstrations planned in the Train Sim World 6 video game. Additionally, digital GBR display boards are to be installed at major stations including Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, and Leeds City.
The Railways Bill will introduce a GBR app designed for timetable checks and ticket purchases without booking fees, along with disability assistance features. A strengthened Passenger Watchdog will oversee GBR, which will own both train services and railway maintenance.
MPs are scheduled to debate the Railways Bill in the House of Commons. The government has taken control of seven major operators and aims to return all passenger services to public ownership as existing contracts expire or are terminated due to failure to deliver.
Notable improvements under nationalisation include South Western Railway increasing capacity by almost 10% through quadrupling its Arterio trains. Similarly, recent timetable changes on the East Coast Main Line are expected to add about 10,000 extra LNER services per year, equating to approximately 60,000 more seats weekly.
