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As Great British Railways launches its patriotic new look, ministers promise clearer fares, stronger local control and overdue improvements for customers

- Simon Calder

Red, white and blue: the colours and lines of the union flag have been deployed as the logo for Great British Railways (GBR). This nationalised body will replace the current patchwork of mostly private train firms running on public infrastructure.

Speaking at London Bridge station in front of a “popup” showing the new branding, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “I’m immensely proud to unveil the new look for Great British Railways.”

Yet among the 150,000 or so passengers starting or ending their journeys at London Bridge station on Tuesday, I saw only a handful showing any interest in how Great British Railways will look. What every train traveller wants to know: will my experience, from buying a ticket to reaching my destination, improve?

The rail minister, Lord Hendy, believes untangling the current corporate conflicts will deliver immediate benefits: “Just ask a railway manager and they’ll tell you how complex the interactions are. You don’t get anything done without a meeting and a table as long as this, with 20 people around it. You can’t get a light bulb changed without something like that. That’s not the right way to run a railway.