Momentum is growing to have the new national body overseeing Britain’s railways built in the East Midlands.
Derby is putting itself forward to become the home of Great British Railways (GBR) backed by key Derby business leaders and politicians.
If it did mover there as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda to support the north, it would lead to new jobs, city regeneration and boost the local economy.
GBR was created in May to bring together management of the 海角视频’s fragmented passenger railway and ticketing systems.
As part of the Levelling Up agenda some 22,000 civil service jobs will be moved out of London by the end of the decade.
Derby City Council, train builder Alstom, D2N2 LEP, Toyota and East Midlands Chamber of Commerce have written to the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to bring GBR to the city.
The letter comes just days after Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham supported the move in the House of Commons –because of the big part Derby played in the history of British rail transport and it’s current part in the sector.
The bid is also supported by Derby South MP Margaret Beckett.
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Government investment in Derby would not only bring decision-making to the city for the first time in decades, but would maximise Derby’s unique strengths in the rail industry.
The city’s existing links to the rail industry – past and present – and its large and diverse pool of rail expertise spanning operations, design, manufacture, testing, safety, data and finance mean Derby offers a fresh start for GBR and a prime opportunity for Government to consider.
Paul Simpson, Derby City Council chief executive, said: "Derby has a 200-year legacy as being the centre for the rail industry and geographically sits in heart of 海角视频 rail network.
"We welcome Mrs Latham’s support in the House to help champion our city to become the strategic home to help drive the transformation on 海角视频 rail.
"As a city we’re home to Europe’s largest and most diverse rail cluster and speaking with key rail industry stakeholders, there is outstanding appetite for the Great British Railways headquarters to be in Derby.
"The move would offer a unique opportunity for the Government to collaborate with the rail industry, as well as supporting the levelling up agenda for the city.
"We look forward to discussing the next steps of this bid with Government."
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Alstom – which runs the 海角视频’s largest train factory from Derby – has also shown strong support for the move.
Will Tanner, communications director, 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 海角视频’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 its still doing so today."
John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: "Derby is a can-do city that hosts one of the world's largest rail clusters and I cannot think of a better home for the new Great British Railways.
"From a Government perspective it makes business sense and locating these jobs in the East Midlands would also contribute to the levelling up agenda."
In February, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that 500 civil servants would be relocated to the West Midlands with a new headquarters based in Wolverhampton.
New regional offices for other Government departments are expected in Manchester, Darlington, Stoke-on-Trent and York by 2025.
The economic analysis has confirmed that dispersal of government activity is likely to bring economic benefits and new opportunities for those locations that have been selected for new Government headquarters.