What's happened
Derby chosen as the headquarters for Great British Railways, beating out other shortlisted locations.
Why it matters
The selection of Derby as the headquarters for Great British Railways is significant as it will centralize the management of the rail infrastructure, passenger services, fares, and timetables. This move aims to improve the efficiency and coordination of the railway system in the UK. The decision also highlights the government's commitment to leveling up and investing in the rail industry.
What the papers say
The decision to choose Derby as the headquarters for Great British Railways was announced by Transport Secretary Mark Harper. The Guardian reported that Derby will become the heart of Great Britain's rail industry, bringing together track and train, as well as revenue and cost. The Independent highlighted that Derby scored highest in the expression of interest stage of the competition and won the public vote. BBC News provided background information on the establishment of Great British Railways and the selection criteria for the headquarters location.
How we got here
Great British Railways (GBR) is a new public sector body that will own the rail infrastructure, procure passenger services, and set most fares and timetables. The establishment of GBR aims to simplify the rail network and improve services for passengers. The selection of the headquarters location involved a public vote and assessment against criteria such as transport connections, railway heritage, and value for money.
More on these topics
-
High Speed 2 is a planned high speed railway in the United Kingdom, with its first phase in the early stages of construction and future stages awaiting approval.
-
Mark James Harper is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean constituency since 2005.
-
Mark John Thurston is a British electrical engineer and businessman, and the chief executive of the currently under construction railway project High Speed 2 since March 2017.
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northÂwestern coast of the European mainland.
-
Louise Margaret Haigh is a British Labour Party politician currently serving as the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
-
Great British Railways is a planned state-owned public body that will oversee rail transport in Great Britain from 2023. The organisation will replace Network Rail as the operator of rail infrastructure, and will also control the contracting of train oper
-
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival.
-
Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament for South West Surrey since 2005. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 2010 to 2019, most recently as Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019.
-
Alec Edward Shelbrooke PC MP is a British Conservative politician who has been Member of Parliament for Elmet and Rothwell since 2010.
-
The Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved.