Government slammed for ‘whole waste of cash’ concept to color trains
Trains will be given a union flag inspired red, white and blue paint job under the Government’s rail-nationalisation plans to be unveiled by ministers at London Bridge today
The government’s “atrocious” paint job for its proposed nationalised trains has been slammed as a “mad dog’s breakfast”. State-owned company Great British Railways will feature red, white and blue livery on its trains, stations and website.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the “striking and memorable design” was developed in-house to maximise value for money and will mark a stark change from the “Rail Blue” colour scheme that defined British Rail’s trains from the mid-1960s to the 1980s.
But critics slammed the union flag-inspired branding when it was unveiled on Tuesday. One social media user raged: “What a waste of money. Expect fares in England will go up to pay for this nonsense.” And Stephen Bayley, founder of the Design Museum, said: “It’s atrocious. A mad dog’s breakfast.”
He told the Telegraph: “A livery is branding and branding is all about associations and expectations. In this sense, they’ve got it right. It projects the values of the sponsoring organisation: artless, careless, clumsy, unintelligent and uncoordinated.”
Referring to Japan’s bullet trains, he went on: “Have they never seen a Japanese Shinkansen? That’s what a train should look like. We have some of the best designers in the world in this country. A pity they were not hired by Great British Railways.”
The logo is the GBR name in rail typeface accompanied by the double arrow symbol, described by the DfT describe as a “nod to Britain’s proud railway heritage”. The first actual trains to be repainted could arrive from next spring.
Rail historian and author Christian Wolmar said: “The design is bloody fabulous. I think it conveys an impression of speed. It’s elegant. It combines Union Jack colours, and I think it’s very important to have an identity.”
The unveiling comes as legislation to reform the railway is debated in the House of Commons. The government hopes the bill will create a unified, accountable nationalised railway after decades of a fragmented private system.
Announcing the branding, transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”
There are now seven train operators already in public hands, accounting for about a third of journeys, with franchises being acquired as their contracts expire.
The Labour government has taken three passenger rail franchises back into public control in the last year, a key manifesto pledge. Several train companies had been nationalised under the previous Conservative government.
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