The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward has welcomed a new Government Bill which puts Derby at the heart of the nation’s railway network.
The Railways Bill, presented to parliament by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander yesterday, will create Great British Railways (GBR), a new publicly owned company, headquartered in Derby, which will bring together the management of passenger services and rail infrastructure.
The creation of GBR will bring jobs and an economic boost to the region, as well as putting Derby at the centre of UK rail innovation.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This is a truly exciting moment for Derby and the East Midlands. The creation of Great British Railways here in one of our cities builds on Derby’s proud history as one of the cornerstones of Britain’s rail industry and reinforces its position as the heart of our national network.
“Derby has been driving rail innovation for decades – including hosting The Greatest Gathering, part of the Railway 200 celebrations, earlier this year – and now it will lead in the next chapter of reform and renewal.”
