A historic moment for Britain’s railway has been marked today (Thursday 21 May), as the first Great British Railways (GBR) branded train was unveiled in Brighton.
Whether it’s building sandcastles, fish and chips on the pier or a staycation, rail travellers to the south and southeast this long weekend can catch a glimpse of the striking new red, white and blue livery, now operating on the tracks.
The first GBR-branded train, a Class 387 operated by Southern, has been unveiled, to mark Britain’s largest train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) joining the growing publicly owned network next Sunday (31 May) – just in time for summer. It also comes ahead of the first anniversary of South Western Railway entering public ownership.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “The unveiling of the first GBR-branded train in Brighton today makes the future of Britain’s railways a reality.
“It represents all of the work being done by staff up and down the country to fundamentally reform our railway.
“This isn’t just a paint job – it’s an important step towards building a more joined‑up, publicly owned railway that puts passengers first, delivers better services and leaves the frustrations and fragmentation of the past behind.”
The GBR brand will also feature on the incoming GBR ticketing app – a one‑stop shop where passengers can check train times, buy tickets with no booking fees, and book Passenger Assist.
John Whitehurst, chief operating officer for GTR, said: We’re very pleased to be the first train operator to have a Great British Railways-branded train on our network, and I’m proud of how hard colleagues have worked to get us here.
“It’s a significant milestone for everyone at GTR, which reflects our readiness for change and the improvements we’ve already been delivering for customers.
“As we move closer to our transition to public ownership on 31 May, our priorities remain providing safe and reliable services every day, with customers, colleagues and communities at the heart of everything we do.”
Image credit: Gov.UK
