Union Jack-style Great British Railways branding at major Glasgow station angers Scottish government officials

Noddy · 2026-09-02T16:50:15+0100

David M said:
Oh, you betcha it is.

Flags only matter to nationalists of whatever persuasion. They don’t matter to the vast of users and the priorities of management should be running the best possible network for them. Not whether some stupid branding incorporates one flag or another.

In my opinion this is yet another reason why nationalisation of the network is a mistake. Petty politics is coming to the forefront to make headlines rather than a focus on passengers.

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bigmanaiq · 2026-09-02T17:02:13+0100

Odds on anyone caring, or by extension noticing if this wasn’t pointed out?

Noddy · 2026-09-02T17:06:32+0100

bigmanaiq said:
Odds on anyone caring, or by extension noticing if this wasn’t pointed out?

^ This.

Passengers don’t care about branding, or governments putting flags on trains in order to distract from their own failings, and they certainly aren’t going to get confused by it. They care about trains turning up on time and being able to get a seat.

Djgr · 2026-09-02T17:52:24+0100

norbitonflyer said:
I am in Sotland now, and at least in this area I'm seeing at least as many Union Flags as Saltires
And the Union Flag was actually devised by a Scot - King James VI

Are you staying at the Dumfries Travel Tavern?

AlterEgo · 2026-09-02T18:03:13+0100

urbophile said:
I doubt if the reaction would have been so violent if the GBR branding were not so needlessly provocative - all that Union Jack nonsense. But why does Glasgow Central have to be managed by GBR anyway? And why is it GBR rather than just BR? Pandering to Reform?

The Union Jack is not a provocative symbol. You don't live in West Belfast.

TT-ONR-NRN · 2026-09-02T18:08:33+0100

urbophile said:
I doubt if the reaction would have been so violent if the GBR branding were not so needlessly provocative - all that Union Jack nonsense. But why does Glasgow Central have to be managed by GBR anyway? And why is it GBR rather than just BR? Pandering to Reform?

Because the island is called Great Britain! Honestly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 18:09 ==

Coleridge said:
If you're not Scottish or Welsh, I don't think you can appreciate the (minor) irritation felt at having a union flag draped over a public building. It's insensitive, and indicates a dismissive attitude towards those parts of the UK.

An English flag, sure. A British flag — it’s part of Great Britain.

D1537 · 2026-09-02T18:11:37+0100

AlterEgo said:
The Union Jack is not a provocative symbol. You don't live in West Belfast.

Um, it definitely is a sectarian issue in Glasgow.

AlterEgo · 2026-09-02T18:26:14+0100

D1537 said:
Um, it definitely is a sectarian issue in Glasgow.

It's not the grounds on which it's being objected to by the minister.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 18:27 ==

Noddy said:
Do Transport Scotland really think passengers are that stupid? No of course they don’t. This is just petty politics being played by nationalists on both sides. It’s not about improving services for users, stakeholders or taxpayers. Both sides need to take a long hard look at what they’re doing and the amount of energy being wasted on such a petty thing. It doesn’t matter, what matters is that the trains turn up on time and folk have a seat.

Quite.

Magrar · 2026-09-02T18:27:30+0100

Coleridge said:
If you're not Scottish or Welsh, I don't think you can appreciate the (minor) irritation felt at having a union flag draped over a public building. It's insensitive, and indicates a dismissive attitude towards those parts of the UK.

The very idea there is a single public building in Scotland that is the SNPs to call their own, is the far more insensitive position.

It not only ignores the political reality that buildings like Glasgow Central are ultimately the property of the United Kingdom for as long as the Houses of Parliament exercise sovereignty over Scotland, it ignores the views of the millions of people who consider themselves both Scottish and British, and thus are entirely happy for any and all Scottish "public" buildings to also be considered British "public" buildings.

In short, your use of "Scottish" above, erroneously presumes you cannot be "Scottish" unless you are a supporter of independence.

Coleridge · 2026-09-02T18:30:41+0100

TT-ONR-NRN said:
Because the island is called Great Britain! Honestly.

But the adjective associated with Britain is British, not Great British. Great British Railways sounds ridiculous.

Geeves · 2026-09-02T18:49:00+0100

Coleridge said:
If you're not Scottish or Welsh, I don't think you can appreciate the (minor) irritation felt at having a union flag draped over a public building. It's insensitive, and indicates a dismissive attitude towards those parts of the UK.

I seem to remember there was a already an independence vote where 2,001,926 voted that they were happy with the union and happy with the way things are. The English don't need to speak for the Scottish they spoke with their own voice.

Another 600 or so thousand at the time didn't even care enough to vote which says to me theres a lot of crying and moaning from a vocal minority of separatists but actually the large percentage of the population of Scotland are happy or just don't care!

Coleridge · 2026-09-02T18:51:56+0100

Geeves said:
I seem to remember there was a already an independence vote where 2,001,926 voted that they were happy with the union and happy with the way things are. The English don't need to speak for the Scottish they spoke with their own voice.

Another 1 million didn't even care enough to vote which says to me theres a lot of crying and moaning from a vocal minority of separatists but actually the large percentage of the population of Scotland are happy or just don't care!

It's not a question of independence - I have no desire for Welsh independence, for example. It's simply a matter of respecting other parts of the UK.

Geeves · 2026-09-02T18:56:05+0100

Coleridge said:
It's not a question of independence - I have no desire for Welsh independence, for example. It's simply a matter of respecting other parts of the UK.

In what way is the union flag disrespectful? The people of Scotland had the option to leave so as I said it's clearly not a problem for the majority. The flag represents us all. So far as I'm aware Scotland does very well as part of the union especially when it comes to transport.

norbitonflyer · 2026-09-02T18:58:20+0100

Djgr said:
Are you staying at the Dumfries Travel Tavern?

More than 70 miles and a ferry away

TT-ONR-NRN · 2026-09-02T18:58:38+0100

Coleridge said:
It's not a question of independence - I have no desire for Welsh independence, for example. It's simply a matter of respecting other parts of the UK.

It’s ridiculous to say that the national flag is disrespectful to devolved nations. You yourself are doing the Welsh and Scottish no favours here by furthering a harmful stereotype that they’re unfairly intolerant of the UK.

bramling · 2026-09-02T18:59:52+0100

Djgr said:
It's called political sensitivity, the lack of which in the past has fueled the fires of separation.

Scotland chose to remain part of the UK, so it is in the fortunate position of having two flags, as well as its own national flag incorporated in the union flag. I can see no reason why this should fuel anything.

My local church has an England flag as well as a union one on it, and I’m very happy it does.

AlterEgo · 2026-09-02T18:59:54+0100

The flag of the United Kingdom is not disrespectful. In some contexts national symbols can be, I agree. The context is what matters.

A flag being accidentally also applied to a ticket barrier at the low level of a station where the high level legitimately and uncontroversially has them is not provocative unless you are seeking to imagine trouble.

As John Hume said, "you can't eat a flag". And he was my dad's history teacher, which will give you a clue as to my family background.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 19:01 ==

bramling said:
Scotland chose to remain part of the UK, so it is in the fortunate position of having two flags, as well as its own national flag incorporated in the union flag.

(The saltire takes up most of the real estate of the Union Jack!) It is the only flag whose design is fully included.

gabrielhj07 · 2026-09-02T19:11:20+0100

Coleridge said:
But the adjective associated with Britain is British, not Great British. Great British Railways sounds ridiculous.

Come on, we all know that the only reason for calling it 'Great' British Railways is because they've already used up the BR name.

Davester50 · 2026-09-02T19:11:38+0100

Coleridge said:
If you're not Scottish or Welsh, I don't think you can appreciate the (minor) irritation felt at having a union flag draped over a public building. It's insensitive, and indicates a dismissive attitude towards those parts of the UK.

I'm Scottish. It's an HMG building. In the UK.
The current ruling admin wave the flag of the European Union from the Parliamentary estate.

They're quite adept at being provocative about flegs when they want to be.

Deepgreen · 2026-09-02T19:14:52+0100

snookertam said:
ScotRail isn’t and won’t be part of GBR, so the boss of TS is right to raise it, and NR were right to apologise, although it does seem like it was a genuine mistake.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 14:54 ==

Nothing like the same scenario.

Why won't it?

Great British Railways should mean exactly that unless or until Scotland gains independence. The nationalisation philosophy should embrace all British main line railways, or the integration currently lacking will not return properly.

The Union flag incorporates English, Scottish and Welsh elements, such that no nation is excluded or sidelined, quite rightly. A storm in a teacup, methinks.

Davester50 · 2026-09-02T19:18:54+0100

snookertam said:
ScotRail isn’t and won’t be part of GBR, so the boss of TS is right to raise it, and NR were right to apologise, although it does seem like it was a genuine mistake.

The triumphalism about getting an apology for a contractor putting stickers on the wrong gates from someone who earns a six figure sum shows exactly what she is.

gabrielhj07 · 2026-09-02T19:21:32+0100

Deepgreen said:
Why won't it? Great BRITISH Railways should mean exactly that unless or until Scotland gains independence. The nationalisation philosophy should embrace all British main line railways, or the integration currently lacking will not return properly. The Union flag incorporates English, Scottish and Welsh elements such that no nation is excluded or sidelined, quite rightly. A storm in a teacup, methinks.

Because removing the distinct ScotRail branding would upset thin-skinned nationalists such as the lady making this complaint.

(And also ScotRail is doing quite well for itself without Westminster's help)

Port Road · 2026-09-02T19:42:44+0100

Geeves said:
In what way is the union flag disrespectful? The people of Scotland had the option to leave so as I said it's clearly not a problem for the majority. The flag represents us all. So far as I'm aware Scotland does very well as part of the union especially when it comes to transport.

"Scotland does very well as part of the union...." Oh? Please enlighten me. (I have tried very hard not to react so some of the "stuff" being posted so far....)
"The majority" that you claim to speak for -according to polls- actually want to leave the union, but for some reason your Prime Minister won't even discuss the matter. So much for democracy, eh? Unionist politicos have repeatedly been asked the question 'if it's a voluntary union what is Scotland's escape route' ..... none of them will answer. So if it's not a voluntary union, what is it exactly?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 19:43 ==

Russel said:
Not really, if this is all she has to get worked up about, then I'd question how important her job is, being paid from the public purse and all that...

Well, that's your opinion.

Coleridge · 2026-09-02T19:53:23+0100

Deepgreen said:
Why won't it? Great BRITISH Railways should mean exactly that unless or until Scotland gains independence.

ScotRail and TfW are not joining GBR because passenger rail transport is a fully devolved matter and the Scottish Parliament and Senedd have legal authority over their respective rail networks (since 2021 in Wales and 2022 in Scotland). The Railways Bill specifically protects these devolved powers while restructuring England’s rail system.

Davester50 · 2026-09-02T19:53:59+0100

Port Road said:
"The majority" that you claim to speak for -according to polls- actually want to leave the union

40.5% of votes at the 2026 election for SNP/Green and 58.2% for parties that vote for the Union, by the way.

Geeves · 2026-09-02T19:56:10+0100

Port Road said:
"Scotland does very well as part of the union...." Oh? Please enlighten me. (I have tried very hard not to react so some of the "stuff" being posted so far....)
"The majority" that you claim to speak for -according to polls- actually want to leave the union, but for some reason your Prime Minister won't even discuss the matter. So much for democracy, eh? Unionist politicos have repeatedly been asked the question 'if it's a voluntary union what is Scotland's escape route' ..... none of them will answer. So if it's not a voluntary union, what is it exactly?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 19:43 ==

Well, that's your opinion.

Why do you believe the results of a second vote would be different to the first? If the second vote results in folks wanting to stay should we arrange a third? When exactly would it end.

There's plenty of English here that are absolutely biting their tongues just like you are and that's fine.

When I say doing well I speak at least from a transport perspective. Scottish railways are getting the investment lines in England could only dream of and good for them!

Akela · 2026-09-02T20:53:37+0100

och aye said:
That's interesting. HMRC did the same thing with their new office next door to Edinburgh Waverley (you can see it just before you enter the Calton Road tunnels) and there wasn't a reaction.

View attachment 210879

To be fair it wasn’t on a side street, it was one of the first buildings you see walking out of Cardiff Central past the BBC HQ, and it was a lot larger and prominent than that one. I can see how it could ruffle some feathers.

But it was probably in the government’s best interest not to add it since the building and plaza has already become something of a focal point for protests involving all things UK government related. The massive “UK Government” sign near the front door doesn’t really help matters.

Russel · 2026-09-02T20:56:34+0100

Port Road said:
Well, that's your opinion.

No, it's a non issue that's being blown out of proportion in the name of political point scoring.

McRhu · 2026-09-02T21:18:45+0100

To gauge the grass-roots public reaction to the GBR colours being hoisted in Central it'd be best to consult the views of impartial railway users like (for example) those from Larkhall or Bridgeton.

rmHawk765 · 2026-09-02T21:33:53+0100

Should've been called Rail England, it was so obvious nonsense like this would happen. GBR explicitly is not going to touch Wales or Scotland therefore the current branding is nonsensical and rather than trying to figure out why this lady is complaining about a sticker instead of fixing issues with the actual railway, the issue could've been averted in the first place. The double arrows and the plain white signage already used by GBR are a perfect fit for stations with major service to both England and Wales or Scotland.

Union Jack-style Great British Railways branding at major Glasgow station angers Scottish government officials

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