The first Great British Railways (GBR) branded train has been unveiled in Brighton ahead of the nationalisation of Govia Thameslink Railway, Britain’s largest train operator, on Sunday 31 May.
The Class 387, operated by Southern, will be the first of many trains to bear the GBR logo. Passengers will also begin to see the design at stations, on staff uniforms and on trains, but the Department for Transport (DfT) said that the rollout would happen gradually to ensure value for taxpayers’ money.
GBR branding will be most prominently displayed in England because the DfT will manage those franchises directly. In Scotland and Wales, services including ScotRail, the Caledonian Sleeper and Transport for Wales will continue to be owned by the devolved governments. However, the branding is expected to appear on cross-border intercity services such as the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines, which run into Scotland and Wales.
Ultimately, around 80% of passenger rail journeys will take place on publicly...