UK's renationalised trains to get Union Flag makeover / Photo: Toby Shepheard - AFP
-
In ritual dear to Francis, Pope Leo washes feet of 12 priests in Rome
-
With mighty thrust, Artemis astronauts blast towards Moon
-
Colombia's Rodriguez hospitalized with 'severe dehydration'
-
Trump gloats on possible war crimes in Iran, but punishment distant
-
Woods told cops he spoke with 'the President' before arrest: bodycam footage
-
Cunningham to miss another week for NBA Pistons
-
Lyon beat Wolfsburg to reach Women's Champions League semis
-
Oil surges, stocks mixed as Trump dashes hopes of quick end of war
-
Mickelson withdraws from Masters over family matter
-
Blues rugby player retires after terminal cancer diagnosis
-
Trump ballroom approved by panel, remains stalled by judge
-
Resilient Pegula reaches WTA Charleston quarters with tiebreak win
-
Pakistan hikes petrol, diesel prices due to Middle East war
-
Trump orders new pharma tariff, reshapes metal duties
-
Music and barbecues in Tehran despite Trump threats
-
Bielle-Biarrey voted best player of Six Nations for second time
-
Veteran QB Cousins to join Raiders: reports
-
El Ghazi records final legal victory over Israel-Hamas posts
-
Barca crush Real Madrid to reach women's Champions League semis
-
UK police set up national hub to cut illegal knife sales
-
French mayor denounces 'increasingly racist society'
-
Head, Abhishek help Hyderabad thump Kolkata in IPL
-
Trump sacks Bondi, appoints ex-personal attorney to head justice dept
-
PSG return to domestic action with focus on Liverpool
-
Cubans demand end of US embargo in bike protest
-
Body camera video released from Woods arrest
-
Artemis astronauts await green light for lunar orbit
-
Travolta returns to Cannes with aviation-inspired directorial debut
-
Grain, steel, fertiliser blocked by Hormuz closure: data
-
De Zerbi to stay at Tottenham next season 'no matter what'
-
Four children stabbed to death at Ugandan nursery: police
-
Oil climbs, stocks slip as Trump dashes hopes of quick end of war
-
Trump urges Bruce Springsteen boycott in social media rant
-
US banks in Paris tighten security, order remote work over pro-Iran threat
-
Israeli politicians, ex-security officials slam 'Jewish terrorism' in West Bank
-
Bashir retains England 'ambition' despite Ashes snub
-
US trade deficit widens less than forecast as tariff turmoil persists
-
UEFA chief Ceferin warns Italy could lose Euro 2032 without stadium improvements
-
Italy's football chief resigns after World Cup disaster
-
Edoardo Molinari named European vice-captain for Ryder Cup
-
'Extraordinary news': Dutch recover stolen gold Romanian helmet
-
France considers reform for New Caledonia
-
UK foreign minister stresses 'urgent need' to reopen Hormuz strait
-
Macron says Trump marriage jibe does not 'merit response'
-
Russia will send second ship with oil to Cuba: minister
-
Belgian bishop takes on Vatican with push to ordain married men
-
Oil rallies, stocks drop as Trump dampens Mideast hopes
-
Nexperia's China unit nears fully local production of chips: company sources
-
Indonesia issues fresh summons for Google, Meta over teen social media ban
-
Japan axe coach Nielsen 12 days after winning Women's Asian Cup
UK's renationalised trains to get Union Flag makeover
Britain's railways will feature trains painted in the red, white and blue of the nation's Union Flag as underperforming train operators return to state ownership, the UK government announced Tuesday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour administration has made the renationalisation of privatised train companies a priority since returning to power in July 2025, with a pledge to tackle delays to journeys and high ticket prices.
"This isn't just a paint job," said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, unveiling the new branding for trains, set to be brought in from around March 2026.
"It represents a new railway, casting off the frustrations of the past and focused entirely on delivering a proper public service for passengers," she added in her statement.
Owing to poor service, some train operators already entered state ownership under the previous Conservative government.
"Seven major train operators are already in public hands, covering a third of all passenger journeys in Great Britain," the Labour administration said Tuesday.
Labour is creating "Great British Railways", a public-sector body, to run the new setup, while finance minister Rachel Reeves announced in her recent budget that rail fares would be frozen next year.
Privatisation of Britain's rail operations occurred in the mid-1990s under the Conservative prime minister John Major, but rail tracks and stations remained publicly owned.
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN