Strathclyde’s Orange and Black Rail Livery: Scotland’s Bold Train Branding

Long before the idea of rail privatisation began circulating, several regional authorities across Britain were already experimenting with their own unified transport branding. These early efforts saw local councils applying distinctive visual identities to both buses and trains, creating a strong regional presence. Among the most memorable of these schemes was the bold orange and black Strathclyde livery, which began appearing on trains as early as 1983—while the West Midlands had introduced its own regional branding even earlier, in the late 1970s.

The Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) created this eye-catching livery to clearly distinguish the rail services it funded within the Greater Glasgow area. Its purpose was to set these trains apart from the standard British Rail blue-and-grey colours. Although the official name for the main shade was “Strathclyde Red,” most people saw it as a vibrant orange, closely aligned with the colours used by Glasgow Corporation buses and the Glasgow Subway, both of which adopted bright orange branding in 1977.

This striking orange-and-black identity remained a familiar sight until the late 1990s. Its retirement followed the 1996 abolition of Strathclyde Regional Council, after which a new carmine-and-cream colour scheme was introduced. The examples pictured here showcase this classic livery on several now-veteran EMUs and DMUs that once worked services to the east of the city.