How is BR/GBR different to NHS England? DfT rail department could run all the central stuff with NR and TOCs as delivery units. Political control of the strategy.
I thought it was announced earlier this year that GBRTT was being wound up, which Lord Hendy confirmed at a recent Transport Select Committe hearing? Something about GBRTT being a creation of the last government and that this government wanted the constituent parts of GBR to implement the transition - Network Rail and DfTO - plus involvement from DfT.
They both (will) operate units that operate things. GBR will be HQ (the vaunted ‘single directing mind’) and could be in DfT if ministers want more control.
I think that’d be disappointing. With all this talk of fixing the railways, there’s going to be little impression on the public that anything will actually change if everything looks exactly the same as its always been.
You're exactly right. I think we'll get Option 2 though - gradual repainting until GBR takes effect legally and can make improvements, then 1. I feel like once the branding is revealed and reliveries start, other operators will be told to stop repainting. I'm surprised SE were even allowed to start with the 376s. Older trains (Networkers, IC225s, 15xs etc) will probably only receive a vinyl.
Could be, although I did notice that the DfT already held slightly different versions of some of these logos previously:-
True. Also possibly Railway 200. However, InterCity and the GatEx flags are very interesting - I think most people assumed InterCity would live but this potentially gives a little bit more credence to the theory. The GatEx flags are interesting but make sense. Don't know what they want with 'Pacer' though. Maybe GWR is the next operator to be nationalised after GA in 2026.
Replace TPE as it’s toxic…….with Crosscountry?!!
).
It was toxic in the "3 car 185s for everything" era, yes, and then improved a little - and then became completely toxic again (even more SO) over the two year or so period where about 25% of their trains were turning up and First got ousted? You can't have forgotten that. I know for a fact people up here still associate TPE with that, just like they associate Northern with not being able to travel on Sundays.TPE isn't toxic. It was in the "3 car 185s for everything" era, but something like doubling the fleet has solved a lot of the problems. (There's a hint there for a certain other TOC with an overcrowding problem
Inspecting these more closely, the registrations appear to be under trademark Class 28, which covers toys and games specifically. I would assume this would be more relevant to the likes of Hornby and Dovetail Games in that they would need permission from DfT to use these brands and logos going forward.Some interesting recent trademarks with the The Secretary of State for Transport:-
GWR
Provincial Sprinter logo
90s Gatwick Express logo
Golden Arrow
Trademark of "INTERCITY"
Various other names trademarked -
GWR is certainly interesting - suggests that the name will continue under GBR.
I'm almost certain NSE will not return. As a brand, it's just outdated, and the livery is incredibly 90s - not the look GBR will be going for. InterCity as a brand will probably return, though I imagine it'll be a totally new livery. Modern intercity train designs are more curvy than the straight-line-heavy BREL design language. IC Swallow just wouldn't look right on modern trains.
