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The UK government has revealed the branding for the new national rail body, constituting a significant move in its agenda to bring the railways under public control.

A National Palette and Iconic Symbol

The new livery features a red, white and blue design to mirror the national flag and will be rolled out on GBR trains, at railway stations, and across its digital platforms.

Significantly, the logo is the distinctive twin-arrow symbol historically used by the national rail network and originally created in the 1960s for the former state operator.

A Rollout Plan

The implementation of the design, which was created by the department, is scheduled to occur over time.

Commuters are set to begin spotting the freshly-liveried trains throughout the network from next spring.

During December, the design will be exhibited at prominent railway stations, such as London Bridge.

A Path to Nationalisation

The proposed law, which will pave the way the formation of Great British Railways, is currently progressing through the Parliament.

The administration has argued it is renationalising the railways so the network is "run by the passengers, delivering for the passengers, not for profit."

Great British Railways will consolidate the running of train services and infrastructure under a single organisation.

The government has claimed it will merge seventeen separate organisations and "eliminate the problematic red tape and lack of accountability that has long affected the railways."

Digital Services and Existing Ownership

The introduction of GBR will also include a dedicated mobile application, which will enable passengers to check train times and reserve tickets without surcharges.

Passengers with disabilities users will also be able to use the app to arrange assistance.

A number of train companies had already been nationalised under the former administration, including Northern.

There are currently 7 train operators already in state ownership, representing 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 Reaction

"This isn't just a cosmetic change," said the Transport Secretary. It represents "a transformed service, casting off the issues of the previous system and focused completely on offering a reliable public service."

Rail representatives have welcomed the government's commitment to improving services.

"We will continue to collaborate with relevant bodies to support a smooth changeover to Great British Railways," a senior figure added.