York misses out as Derby chosen as HQ for Great British Railways

The city has been selected over five other areas of the country.

Author: Jon BurkePublished 21st Mar 2023

Derby has been named as the new headquarters of Britain's railways, after a bid from York has failed.

The East Midlands city has been confirmed as the home of new public sector body Great British Railways (GBR).

It fought off competition from other shortlisted locations including York, Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster and Newcastle.

Among the selection criteria were alignment to levelling-up, transport connections, railway heritage and value for money.

York's council leader, Keith Aspden, says he's "disappointed" and it should be in the North.

Derby is already home to the UK's largest train factory - owned by Alstom - where around 2,000 people are employed.

The bid to host the headquarters named a potential location as the former site of the Railway Technical Centre in the south-east of the city, which has been developed into a business park.

It is hoped GBR will simplify the rail network and improve services for passengers by absorbing the state-owned infrastructure management company Network Rail and taking on many functions from the Department for Transport.

The body's tasks will including issuing passenger service contracts to private companies to run trains.

It was due to be launched in early 2024 but that timetable has been scrapped.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.