Confirmation that Great British Railways HQ still on track for Derby
Great British Railways (GBR) is still on track to make its headquarters in the city, according to Derby North MP Amanda Solloway. She has met with Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who she said “reaffirmed his support” for the project, despite previous rumours that the project could be pulled.
Derby was named in March as the future venue[1] for an HQ in charge of a restructured railway, replacing Network Rail and overseeing the infrastructure as well as tickets and timetabling, but within weeks rumours circulated that the whole project could be scrapped. Ministers have spent time trying to stave off the rumours, especially following the scrapping of much of the HS2 project last month.
But Mrs Solloway said: “I have regular meetings with ministers in the Department for Transport about the GBR HQ project and my colleagues remain very supportive and enthusiastic about delivering the scheme for the benefit of our national rail network and, in particular, Derby.
“At the recent meeting, the Transport Secretary explained that work on a location in Derby has made progress. However, a final decision is still outstanding. I know he has had meetings with the GBR Transition Team about this matter and work continues at pace, but I am still keen to see this accelerated.
POLL: Do you welcome trick-or-treaters?[2]
“The location of the GBR HQ in Derby will be a fantastic opportunity for the city and I will have further meetings with colleagues and the Transition Team this week to discuss this topic in more detail.”
Various reports have said that the Government had “quietly scrapped” plans for GBR and that it won’t feature in the upcoming King’s Speech[3], needed to get additional legislation for the body through Parliament. But the GBR transition team is already working in the city.
Mr Harper visited Derby a few days after it was announced that the city had beaten off competition from five other places to be the home of GBR.[4] Previously, it had been suggested that the existing Midland House could be a possible site for GBR.
There is also space that could be altered and refurbished at the former rail technical centre on London Road and there is also spare land near the railway, where something new could be built.
Mrs Solloway, along with fellow Conservative MPs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) and Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire), also spoke to Mr Harper about uncertainty at Derby train maker Alstom,[5] where a potentially empty order book from early next year is causing worries from staff and unions.
The Litchurch Lane company has a pending three-year production gap threatening 2,000 jobs[6] and Mr Harper had previously written to Derby City Council to say that he hopes the company “maintains a significant presence” in the city.
Mrs Solloway said: “It is clear that the Secretary of State is actively exploring all avenues with Alstom. This is shown by the fact he has set up a cross-government task force chaired by his Director General for Rail Strategy and Services, Conrad Bailey, to hold weekly meetings with the company and has personally met with company directors on a number of occasions.
“I know Government is reaching out to train operators to ensure no stone is left unturned to provide Alstom with opportunities to bid on rollingstock contracts and I will continue to meet with my ministerial colleagues to encourage progress on this matter and so I can keep constituents up to date on any developments. I know they also want to see Alstom remain in Derby.”
References
- ^ Derby was named in March as the future venue (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Do you welcome trick-or-treaters? (xd.wayin.com)
- ^ it won’t feature in the upcoming King’s Speech (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ beaten off competition from five other places to be the home of GBR. (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ spoke to Mr Harper about uncertainty at Derby train maker Alstom, (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ a pending three-year production gap threatening 2,000 jobs (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)