Derby bids for Great British Rail HQ
GBR will integrate the railways across the country
Great British Railways will be the new public body responsible for running Britain’s railways, working with the Government and companies across the rail sector.
The new body will own the infrastructure, collecting fare revenue, running and planning the network, and setting most fares and timetables.
It comes as the Secretary of State for Transport announced that a competition would take place to find a location for the headquarters outside of London.
Derby’s bid has the backing of councils across the East Midlands including Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Leicester and Leicestershire.
City Council Chief Executive Paul Simpson says:
"Derby has a near 200-hundred-year legacy as being the centre for the rail industry and geographically sits in heart of UK rail network.
Rail is embedded in our culture and as a city we’re home to Europe’s largest and most diverse rail cluster.
We have a highly skilled and talented workforce, as we’re home to leading innovating businesses, including Alstom, Rolls-Royce and Toyota.
The move would offer a unique opportunity for the Government to collaborate with the rail industry, as well as supporting the levelling up agenda for the city.
With backing from our people and our Local Authority partners across the East Midlands, we’re determined to prove that Derby is the right home for GBR."
County Council Leader Barry Lewis added:
"We fully support the bid to bring the national headquarters of Great British Railways to Derby and believe it is the ideal location, not only because of its historic associations with the railway and the vital role it plays in the rail industry today but also its geographical position in the national rail network and proximity to the M1."