Image: Department for Transport

9 December 2025

The first images have been released of the new Great British Railways (GBR) branding that will soon appear on trains and stations across the network.

It comes as the comes as the landmark Railways Bill is debated in the House of Commons today. Luke Myer, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, is backing the Railways Bill, which takes the next step in bringing Britain’s railways back into public hands and creating a simpler, unified system.

The bill will create Great British Railways, a new publicly owned body bringing together 17 separate organisations so that one organisation is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the railways. It will also create a powerful Passenger Watchdog to set tough standards for reliability, accessibility and customer service, and introduce modern ticketing through a new GBR app and website with no booking fees, alongside a simplified fares system.

Local passengers have long been frustrated by delays, cancellations and poor timetabling. Northern, which runs most services on Teesside, had its franchise terminated in 2020 amid widespread dissatisfaction over its performance. It is now being managed by DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) until it moves over to GBR. Northern has started to make some progress in public hands, with recent steps to reduce cancellations, trial pay-as-you-go ticketing, and upgrade systems and stock. However, when these functions are passed over to GBR, a single organisation will plan improvements across track and train together.

Commenting on the Bill, Luke Myer MP said:

“For too long, people on Teesside have put up with a railway that feels fragmented and unreliable. Bringing track and train together in public ownership through Great British Railways is a real chance to put passengers first.

The new GBR app will make tickets easier to buy and ensure passengers get the best value every time, and the historic fare freeze will make a difference too. But most importantly, we will finally have one national body which can plan tracks and trains, sort out timetables and build a rail network which works for all of us.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

“The future of Britain’s railways begins today. I’m immensely proud to unveil the new look for Great British Railways as we deliver landmark legislation to nationalise our trains and reform the railway so it better serves passengers.

This isn’t just a paint job – it represents a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers.

With fares frozen, a bold new look and fundamental reforms becoming law, we are building a railway Britain can rely on and be proud of.”

Great British Railways will run and manage the tracks and trains used by passengers every day: ending years of fragmentation, driving up standards for passengers, and making journeys easier and better value for money.

The new GBR branding will be rolled out across the network as services transfer into the unified system, providing a clear and consistent identity for the reformed, publicly owned railway.