Brighton hosted the rollout this morning of the first unit in the new Great British Railways (GBR) corporate identity, the state body set to bring track and train operations under a single guiding framework.
The train is a Class 387 EMU operated by Southern, part of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
The unveiling precedes the transfer of GTR into public ownership on 31 May, covering Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services.
Following this transition, around 80% of the passenger journeys managed by GBR will already be delivered by publicly owned operations.
The new visual identity—featuring the colours of the Union flag—will be progressively applied across stations, staff uniforms and rolling stock. GBR will also introduce a commission-free ticket retailing app and integrate assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility.
The renationalisation programme will continue with Chiltern Railways on 20 September and Great Western Railway on 13 December 2026, with the aim of transferring all operators by the end of 2027, bringing nearly three decades of fragmented private-sector rail operations to a close.