Britain's New Railway Identity Arrives in Anglia with First Painted GBR Fleet

The first permanently painted Great British Railways trains have been unveiled in East Anglia, marking a significant milestone in the Government's rail reform programme as a new integrated operating model begins taking shape across one of the country's busiest rail regions.

The transformation of Britain's railways took another visible step forward today as the first fully painted Great British Railways (GBR) trains for the Anglia region were officially unveiled at London Liverpool Street station.

The launch showcased four newly liveried trains representing both Greater Anglia and c2c, providing the clearest indication yet of how the Government's vision for a unified national railway will look when Great British Railways is fully established.

Unlike previous GBR-branded trains, which received temporary vinyl wraps, the Anglia fleet becomes the first to carry the new red, white and blue identity as a permanent painted finish.

The trains on display included c2c Class 357 units 357008 and 357020, together with Greater Anglia Class 720 Aventra units 720144 and 720501. They also become the first GBR trains to feature revised accessibility markings, reflecting the continued refinement of the national branding programme.

A New Identity Reflecting a New Way of Working

While the striking new livery provides the most visible sign of change, railway leaders stressed that the branding represents something much bigger than a cosmetic makeover.

The launch reflects the creation of GBR Anglia, bringing together Network Rail Anglia, Greater Anglia and c2c into a single integrated regional organisation following both train operators moving into public ownership over the past year.

The aim is to remove the historic divide between infrastructure and train operations, enabling decisions to be made across the railway as one coordinated system rather than by separate organisations.

Speaking at the unveiling, Rail Minister Lord Hendy said Britain's railways function as a single network and passengers rightly expect consistent standards wherever they travel.

He said integrating track and train forms a central part of the Government's plans to deliver the most significant reform of the railway in a generation, adding that closer collaboration will ultimately benefit both passengers and taxpayers.

Integration Already Delivering Results

Officials said the benefits of the new operating model are already beginning to emerge.

One of the most significant developments has been the approval for Greater Anglia's Class 720 Aventra fleet to operate across the c2c network. The additional flexibility allows trains to be deployed between operators during disruption or rolling stock shortages, improving resilience across both routes.

GBR Anglia has also introduced a trial of overnight Friday Stansted Express services, demonstrating how a more integrated organisation can explore new operational opportunities across the region.

The Department for Transport Operator confirmed that, despite the wider rollout of Great British Railways branding, the Stansted Express will continue to retain its own distinct customer-facing identity.

Both the Class 357 and Class 720 fleets will receive the new livery progressively as they pass through scheduled maintenance programmes.

One Railway, One Direction

GBR Anglia Managing Director Jamie Burles described the unveiling as a proud moment, saying it symbolised both the arrival of a new visual identity and the closer working relationship developing between operators and infrastructure teams.

He said the organisations are increasingly planning and delivering services together as one railway, helping improve efficiency and the overall passenger experience.

The branding programme will gradually extend beyond trains to include station signage, wayfinding, staff uniforms and passenger information materials. However, officials confirmed there will be no changes to fares, ticketing arrangements or timetables as the rollout continues.

As Great British Railways moves closer to becoming operational, the arrival of the first permanently painted Anglia fleet represents another important milestone in creating a more integrated, flexible and passenger-focused railway for Britain.