Derby has formally launched its campaign to be the new home of Great British Railways.
Great British Railways will be the new public body set up by the Government to run Britain’s disjointed railways after years of problems.
The Government wants to make the whole system work together better and the new body will integrate the network, owning the infrastructure, collecting fare revenue, running and planning schedules, and setting most fares and timetables.
A competition is underway to find a location for the headquarters outside of London and Derby’s business and political leaders say it would be the ideal place because of its historical ties to the railways and good train connectivity.
Derby’s bid has the backing of councils across the East Midlands including Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Leicester and Leicestershire, representing over three million people from across the region.
Derby City Council leader Coun Chris Poulter, who is leading the bid, said: “Rail is in the blood of many generations of people in Derby, who are naturally proud of our rich and deep-rooted rail heritage.
“My own father spent the whole of his working life at the Derby Loco Works and the smell of engine oil still lingers strong in my memory.
“The home of the railways should also have an eye to the future and this is where Derby can excel.
“It is a centre for rail excellence and innovation, with a strong supply chain to support a large, diverse rail cluster.”
At the end of 2021 the French Alstom group completed the £4.9 billion acquisition of Derby-based train maker Bombardier Transportation, which employs 2,000 people at its Litchurch Lane works.
Will Tanner, communications director at Alstom UK and Ireland, said that Derby was well placed to support the Government relocation.
He said: “The business and national strategic case for locating Great British Railways in the city is very strong indeed and we are delighted that Derby is putting itself forward.
“Alstom is the UK’s leading train builder and maintainer and is proud to call Derby home.
“The city has been building trains for Britain and the world since 1839 and it’s still doing so today.”
Coun Barry Lewis, the leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “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.
“The city and county are home to Europe’s largest cluster of rail engineering companies and it is the only place in the UK where you can design, test and manufacture a train all on the same site.
“There are around 11,000 people working in the rail sector in the area boasting a diverse pool of expertise including cutting edge research in conjunction with the University of Derby on rail de-carbonisation and composite design.
“As part of the levelling up agenda this would be a major boost for the East Midlands region and a real opportunity.”
Leicestershire County Council leader Coun Nick Rushton said: “The city of Derby is the natural choice for the headquarters of GBR and all the East Midlands region is behind the bid.”
