Derby calls on government to name GBR winner

Derby has called on the Government to push ahead and name its preferred location for the home of Great British Railways despite delays to the project.

Last week, Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced that a major overhaul of the way Britain’s railways are managed had been delayed, including the creation of GBR, which is a new public body.

The Department for Transport said that the plan will not be brought before Parliament until May at the earliest, meaning GBR is unlikely to be fully in place by early 2024 as had been hoped.

Derby is among cities and towns that have been shortlisted for GBR’s headquarters, with a number of key stakeholders involved in the city’s bid, led by Derby City Council.

In a statement, the city council said: “Clearly it is disappointing for Derby and for the other competing locations to hear that the announcement been delayed.

“It seems prudent for Government to announce the preferred HQ location, given the extensive process undertaken, including the online public vote.”

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “We support the call for an announcement.

“Six locations across the country put in significant resources to meet tight deadlines set by government, including hosting ministerial visits.”

Winning the competition would bring huge economic benefits not just to Derby, which is already home to the largest cluster of rail companies in Europe, but also the wider East Midlands.

Derby is competing against Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York for the right to host GBR.

Mr Forkin said: “Knowing the winner would at least enable five of these to step down and one to continue planning how they might deliver the ambition.

“We believe Derby made an excellent business case based on our significant rail cluster and we would welcome clarity one way or another.”

According to the DfT, despite the delays, an announcement on the winning location is still expected in the coming weeks.

The city council said: “This would not only provide reassurances on the progression of the levelling up agenda, but also create the opportunity for the selected host location to start to develop a relationship with the GBR team and to build some firm foundations for the organisation’s future development and growth.

“With the largest cluster of rail businesses in Europe and significant industry support, Derby has proven itself as the best location for the headquarters of Great British Railways.

“Derby’s rich rail heritage and deep-rooted culture of innovation make it the ideal location to co-ordinate a modern, British railway for the 21st century and become the home of GBR’s new headquarters.

“The case for locating Great British Railways in Derby is very strong. With a rich 200-year legacy as the centre of the rail industry in Britain, Derby is not only the UK’s leading centre for rail innovation but geographically sits in the heart of the UK’s rail network.

“Over the summer, residents and industry from across the East Midlands came together to showcase all which Derby has to offer and put our case to government as to why Derby is the perfect location to be the new home of Great British Railways.”