The iconic and world famous LNER brand on trains running between London and York is going to be withdrawn again.
A new logo and train livery for GBR (Great British Railways) will be rolled out from next spring to trains, websites and stations and will bring the railway together under one name.
The design features a red, white and blue colour scheme and sharp angles to create a design mirroring the Union Flag. The GBR logo has also been revealed, featuring the iconic double arrow symbol in a nod to Britain’s railway heritage.
But the other heritage brand, perhaps more associated with the East Coast Main Line and York, LNER (London North Eastern Railway) will no longer be on the Azuma and IC225 trains.
It was created by the Railways Act 1921 and operated from 1 January 1923 until nationalisation on 1 January 1948. Then it was brought back following the collapse of Virgin Trains East Coast in May 2018. It has proved a powerful marketing tool for the East Coast Main Line.
The Northern and TransPennine Express brands are also affected but the Hull Trains and Grand Central logos will stay on their services as they are open access operators.
The changes come as the Railways Bill is debated in the House of Commons today and follows the government’s decision to freeze rail fares for the first time in 30 years.
The bill will create Great British Railways, which will see lines operated as a single organisation for the first time in decades.
A new East Coast Mainline timetable is being introduced next week to add 10,000 extra LNER (for now) services annually, meaning 60,000 more seats a week.
Fares and ticketing will be updated, a strengthened passenger watchdog will investigate poor service and demand improvement, and GBR will be empowered to build a railway that supports the government’s aim to drive economic growth.
The design will also feature on the GBR ticketing app, which will be a one-stop shop for passengers to check train times and buy tickets at the best prices across the rail network without any booking fees.
Disabled passengers will also be able to use the app to book Passenger Assist when buying tickets, creating a seamless experience.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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.”
It will then begin to appear across a number of publicly-owned train operators from next spring, to demonstrate the government’s commitment to change, and start the journey of simplifying the railway for passengers.
Most of the rollout will be gradual, and the brand was designed in-house to maximise value for money.
