A key member of Derbyshire’s rail industry says Derby will be letting down the next generation of engineering talent if it didn’t do all in its power to win the race to be named home for the Great British Railways HQ.
Malcolm Prentice, chairman of Swadlincote-based MTMS, says that the city has a huge chance to play a leading role in shaping the future of the rail industry after it was named as one of six finalists in a national competition to find a location for the headquarters outside of London.
But he described the city as an outside bet in the race – despite its rich rail heritage and place at the heart of the rail industry – and said it needs a huge collective effort across the region in order to beat off competitions from the others.
Mr Prentice, who has worked in the city’s rail industry for the past 40 years, was talking after Derby was named alongside Birmingham, York, Doncaster, Newcastle and Crewe on a shortlist in a public vote to find the best place in the country to base the new Great British Railways organisation.
Due to be set up next year, GBR will replace Network Rail as part of a huge overhaul of the country’s rail system, which will see the current rail franchise model consigned to history in favour of a more centralised system.
GBR will be at the heart of the new era, which is also being seen as a new dawn for railways, with plans also announced to bring smaller lines back into use in order to increase public transport options for commuters, as well as the development of green technology to make railways more sustainable.
Derby, thanks to its central location and engineering prowess, would be more than capable of playing an active role in this, says Mr Prentice, however it faces an uphill battle to convince the public and ministers that it has what it takes in the face of stiff competition from the heavyweights on the list such as Birmingham.
He said: “If I was a betting man, I’d say that Derby is an outsider in a vote such as this, because Birmingham is a big city and the headquarters for HS2 for a start, while York’s rail history is far better known.
“If we are to win it, then it can’t be left to the rail industry and the council to do all the hard work. Every business in every sector, as well as people across the city and elsewhere, needs to get on board to show the judges that we are all behind this.
“It’s a big ask, but we have a huge responsibility to the youngsters who are coming through, because their future livelihoods and prospects rely on the ability of Derby to secure opportunities like this ahead of other regions.
“All too often Derby has been left standing on the platform while investment opportunities have gone elsewhere. We have the talent and a wealth of local companies who are already exploring the kind of green transport technology that the rail industry will be looking at.
“It means that while Derby is a logical choice, it’s not an obvious choice, and it’s up to everyone to make the case for the city and give us the best possible chance we could have.”
The public vote to bring the GBR HQ to Derby will end on August 15.
