Great British Railways unveils first train in major public ownership move

WorldPolitics
21 May 2026 • 5:51 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Great British Railways unveils first train in major public ownership move

  • The first train featuring Great British Railways (GBR) branding has been unveiled on a Southern Class 387 train in Brighton.
  • The new livery – which can be seen in the video above – incorporates a red, white, and blue colour scheme, mirroring the Union flag, and the traditional double-arrow logo.
  • This unveiling precedes Southern's services, along with Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express, transitioning into public ownership on 31 May.
  • Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated the launch "makes the future of Britain’s railways a reality," representing a step towards a more unified, publicly-owned railway.
  • GBR is intended to be a new public sector body, consolidating responsibility for tracks and trains, with branding to be rolled out gradually across stations, uniforms, and trains.

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