The Great Little Trains of Wales has announced a new rebrand that will bring all of its member railways under one brand.

The Great Little Trains of Wales is made up of a number of narrow gauge railways, including the Vale of Rheidol Railway, Talyllyn Railway, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and more.

As part of the rebrand, all railways will adopt the British Rail Rail Blue colour scheme and will complement the new carriage livery that is also in development.

The Double Arrow logo will be introduced across all railways and will feature the new Great Little Welsh Railways name.

As a way to reduce costs, the railway’s logos and names will become more ‘Lines’ rather than ‘Railways’, for example, the Bala Lake Railway will now become the Bala Lake Line.

The precise gauge of each railway has been a problem, from the 12.25″ of the Fairbourne Line, to the 2 ft 7.5 inch gauge of the Snowdon Mountain line.

Following a consultation with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Line and their General Manager, it has been decided that it would be cheaper if everyone followed their gauge, since they have the longest line already in use. All stock will be regauged to the gauge used on the Ffestiniog Line, this being 1 ft 11.5 inches.

The regauging work will be carried out at the Boston Lodge Central Traincare Facility, with full details of the upgrade plan being announced in due course.

All steam locomotives will get the new livery to create a single brand that is easily identifiable. The first locomotives with their new colour scheme will be in service this season.

“I guess if it works for the national network over in England, then apparently it can work for our group of railways here. To be honest the guys at the Vale of Rheidol only painted their tank in BR blue last year as a bit of a joke. I’m not sure how it’s now got this far and I don’t remember voting for it, but our consultants seem pretty keen on it and we’ve bought so much blue paint we might as well get on with it.”

Stuart Williams, Vice Chair GLWR and General Manager at Brecon Mountain Line

“Guys! It’s so more than just a new look. It’s about reconnecting with a powerful chapter of railway history. By embracing the Rail Blue livery and the Double Arrow logo, we are creating a strong, cohesive identity that resonates with enthusiasts, visitors, and communities alike, while honouring Gerry Barney and his iconic logo, whilst looking forward to a brave new era for the Great Little Welsh Railways.”

Tim Dunn, railway historian and spokesperson for Design Agency Diwrnod Ffŵl Ebrill