East Midlands Councils has welcomed the decision to make Derby City the new home of Great British Railways (GBR).
The announcement was made by the Rt Hon Mark Harper MP this morning, Tuesday, 21 March 2023.
Six towns with historic links to the rail sector were shortlisted to host the new body – which will oversee rail infrastructure, ticket prices and timetables – with Derby ultimately coming out on top with over 200 years of rail heritage and an overwhelming level of public support from across the historically underfunded East Midlands.
Cllr Martin Hill OBE, Chair of East Midlands Councils, said:
“This is fantastic news for the whole of the East Midlands, providing an unparalleled opportunity for rail across the region, including the exciting potential for overseas investment.
“With a rail legacy spanning almost 200 years, Derby was the clear choice for the new home of Great British Railways.
“This decision will diversify our regional skills in the rail industry, offering more varied job opportunities and showcasing our existing industry expertise as the rail capital of the UK.”
Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of Transport for the East Midlands, said:
“There is no better place for Great British Railways to call home than Derby, a city of innovation and industry with a rich legacy as the centre of the rail industry in Britain.
“This announcement will help reinforce the transport priorities of the region and strengthen the local economy throughout the East Midlands.
“This is a welcome decision which will improve the investment opportunities within Derby and the East Midlands as a whole.”
Cllr Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council and East Midlands Councils Executive board member, said:
We’re absolutely thrilled that Derby has been selected to become the new home of Great British railways. This result is a testament to the hard work of our team, alongside our key rail and city partners based across Derby – we couldn’t have done it without them.
“Rail heritage is at the heart of our city and for this to be recognised by Government is a fantastic achievement. The investment we’ll see from this significant move will be huge, not only just for Derby but for levelling up across the whole of the wider East Midlands.
“Not only do we have Europe’s largest rail cluster centred right here in Derby, but we also have a rich history of being the only city in the UK to have manufactured rolling stock continuously since 1840. I’m thrilled that Derby’s heritage is being recognised in this defining way.
“Thank you again to everyone who took the time to back Derby’s bid, it was brilliant to have support from 22 MPs and all 40 local authorities from across the East Midlands.
“We can’t wait to see what this momentous move will mean for Derby and its citizens in the future.”