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The UK government has introduced the branding for the new national rail body, marking a notable stride in its policy to bring the railways under public control.

An Patriotic Colour Scheme and Historic Symbol

The new design uses a Union Flag-inspired design to mirror the UK flag and will be rolled out on locomotives, at terminals, and across its website and app.

Significantly, the emblem is the recognisable double-arrow symbol historically used by National Rail and previously created in the mid-20th century for British Rail.

A Rollout Strategy

The rollout of the new look, which was developed by the department, is expected to occur gradually.

Commuters are expected to begin spotting the freshly-liveried trains on the UK rail network from next spring.

During the month of December, the branding will be showcased at key railway stations, including London Bridge.

A Path to Renationalisation

The Railways Bill, which will allow the establishment of GBR, is presently making its way through the Parliament.

The administration has stated it is renationalising the railways so the system is "run by the public, working for the people, not for corporate interests."

GBR will bring the running of train services and tracks and signals under one umbrella body.

The government has said it will merge seventeen different organisations and "reduce the problematic bureaucracy and lack of accountability that has long affected the railways."

App-Based Services and Current Public Control

The rollout of Great British Railways will also feature a comprehensive mobile application, which will let users to see schedules and book tickets free from booking fees.

Disabled users will also be have the option to use the application to book support.

Multiple train companies had previously been nationalised under the previous administration, such as LNER.

There are now 7 operating companies now in state ownership, covering about a third of passenger trips.

In the last twelve months, South Western Railway have been brought into public ownership, with additional operators anticipated to be added in the coming years.

Official and Sector Reaction

"This isn't just a cosmetic change," stated the Transport Secretary. It symbolises "a fresh start, leaving behind the issues of the previous system and dedicated solely on delivering a reliable service for the public."

Industry representatives have responded positively to the focus to bettering services.

"We will continue to work closely with industry partners to facilitate a seamless transition to GBR," one executive said.