Britain Unveils First GBR-Liveried Trains for the Anglia Region

Britain's Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy joined Network Rail, c2c and Greater Anglia officials at London Liverpool Street station on 16 July 2026 as the first trains carrying the new Great British Railways (GBR) livery for the Anglia region were unveiled: c2c Class 357 units 357008 and 357020, and Greater Anglia Class 720 units 720144 and 720501, repainted in a red, white and blue identity.

GBR Anglia unifies c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under one leadership and identity. The Class 357 units receive the new livery through c2c's existing fleet repaint and maintenance programme rather than a temporary wrap; the Class 720 Aventra units are built by Alstom, while the Class 357 Electrostar units were originally built by Bombardier before Alstom acquired Bombardier Transportation in 2021. The trains are the first in the Anglia region to carry the GBR livery -- nationally, a Southern Class 387 was the first train unveiled in the new identity, in May 2026.

One early operational benefit has already followed: Greater Anglia's Class 720 units have gained approval to run on the c2c network, adding fleet flexibility and resilience between the two previously separate operators.

"Track and train are two sides of the same coin but for too long they operated independently of each other," said Lord Hendy, Rail Minister. "By uniting track and train under one identity and leadership in Anglia, we're creating a more reliable service."

Jamie Burles, Managing Director of GBR Anglia, said: "Seeing the first GBR Anglia trains together at London Liverpool Street is a proud moment. The new identity reflects c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia increasingly planning and delivering as one railway."

The Anglia release does not claim to be the first UK region with integrated track-and-train leadership -- other operators, including Southeastern and South Western Railway, already run similar integrated arrangements. The government says its wider rail public-ownership programme, of which Great British Railways is part, is on track to complete by the end of 2027.