British trains haven’t worked as well as they should in a very long time. That’s not a particularly controversial take – anyone who regularly travels by rail in this country will be all too used to delays, cancellations, jam-packed carriages and sky-high ticket prices. Clearly, we’re in need of a lot of change.
And change is what we’re about to get. The Department for Transport (DfT) has just revealed the train designs and logo for Great British Railways (GBR), the brand new publicly owned body that will be managing our railways from 2026 onwards.
The government pledged to re-nationalise the railways in its election manifesto, arguing that bringing things under one roof would allow for more reliable service and more efficient management.
Since Labour got into power last year nationalisation has been full steam ahead, with seven operators now back under government ownership. The other 10 will be absorbed as their contracts run out, with CrossCountry expiring last in 2027. Here’s when every UK rail operator will be nationalised.
The new-look train liveries are a patriotic red, white and blue, ‘mirroring’ the Union Jack. They also feature the iconic National Rail double-arrow, which is to become the logo for GBR. The bright design will be gradually rolled out across the network from next spring, accompanied by a brand new app where you can check train times and buy tickets without any extra fees.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said that this move is ‘more than a paint job’, saying: ‘It represents a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers… we are building a railway Britain can rely on and be proud of.’
The DfT promises a ‘more reliable’ network that is more accountable to the public. In recent UK train news, rail fares are being frozen across the country in 2026 (unless you use TfL services in London).
Passengers will be able to get a good look at the new GBR trains at select stations across the country, as they’ll be on display (digitally) at London Bridge, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central, Leeds, and Manchester Piccadilly throughout the week.
Did you see that Eurostar has confirmed plans to launch direct trains from the UK to a new European country?
Plus: This is the busiest train station in the UK (outside London).
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