Ed Davey backs York’s Great British Railways HQ bid

The leader of the Liberal Democrats has backed York’s bid to become the new home of Great British Railways (GBR).

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last year launched a competition to find the town or city to host GBR’s headquarters, which will be the single, accountable public body responsible for running Britain’s railways.

Mr Shapps has said the location “should be somewhere with a great railway history” and be “well connected”.

The shortlisted towns and cities will enter a public competition, with a public vote to decide the location of the new HQ.

York’s bid, which has been supported by local and regional leaders and businesses, is to be formally submitted shortly.

Sir Ed said: “I believe that York would make an excellent home for Great British Rail, so I fully back this bid. Not only has the city already got the connections, historic links and skills, it also has the ambition and opportunity to make the most out of this move, supporting local and regional recovery.

“Whilst this alone clearly wouldn’t amount to the investment and reform needed when it comes to transport, particularly rail, in Yorkshire, it would be a promising start and add some substance to the empty slogans of levelling up.”

York has around 5,000 rail industry jobs, representing 10 per cent of the national industry and two thirds of all rail jobs in the region. 

The city is already home to Network Rail, who manage the East Coast Main Line from York, as well as LNER, Northern, Grand Central, the Siemens train servicing and cleaning depot and the National Railway Museum, along with a variety of contractors and specialists.

GBR will absorb Network Rail and take on many functions from the Department for Transport to end fragmentation of the industry.

City of York Council leader, Keith Aspden, said: “I’m grateful to the many residents, businesses and city partners, which have already backed York’s campaign. Sir Ed Davey’s support only further strengthens our bid to bring the GBR HQ to the rightful home of the country’s rail industry.

 “We are now working with key partners to submit a comprehensive bid, which will show the many reasons why York is best placed to be the home of GBR.”