Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Great British Railways: Headquarters

24 November 2021 · 5 other contributors · 4,286 words

Opened by Julian Sturdy Con York Outer

Responding minister: Chris Heaton-Harris

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Julian Sturdy raised concerns about great british railways: headquarters in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • York was the first city connected to the railway network over 180 years ago and hosts Network Rail's training centre and the National Railway Museum.
  • York station offers direct access to over 150 towns representing a third of the UK's population and attracts over 700,000 visitors annually to the National Railway Museum.
  • The minister acknowledged York's railway heritage and stated that the criteria for selecting Great British Railways' headquarters would be announced before or at the start of the new year.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to recognise York's credentials as the home of the railways and consider locating the headquarters of Great British Railways there, especially on the York Central brownfield regeneration site. The city's central role in the rail industry, skills base, and its strategic location make it an ideal choice.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Julian Sturdy Con York Outer

York was the first city connected to the railway network more than 180 years ago and has a rich rail heritage, including being home to Network Rail's training centre and having a significant presence in the UK's largest rail cluster. York station is one of the most impressive globally with direct access to over 150 towns representing a third of the UK's population. The city also houses the National Railway Museum which attracts over 700,000 visitors annually from around the world.

Other contributors (5)
  • Andrew Jones Con Harrogate and Knaresborough

    He supported the case for York based on its diverse skills base in various rail-related sectors, particularly digital technology. He highlighted York's importance as a railway city, noting that Network Rail currently employs over 1,000 people there. He also pointed out the proximity of major rail companies to the city. Asked for more details on the criteria used in deciding the location for the Great British Railways headquarters.

  • Greg Knight Con North East Hampshire

    He congratulated the hon. Member for securing the debate and suggested that York, with its railway heritage, would be an ideal location for Great British Railways headquarters.

  • Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton

    He suggested that York's quality of life would be an additional factor in choosing it as the location for Great British Railways headquarters. The Minister's comments were appreciated, with a query about the number of people to be located at the Great British Railways headquarters.

  • Pauline Latham Constitutional Unionist Mid Derbyshire

    She proposed that Derby should host Great British Railways headquarters due to its central location and extensive railway industry presence.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    She agreed with her hon. Friend's points about York being a strong candidate and highlighted the city's skills in digital rail technology, engineering, and operations. The Minister understands and appreciates the value of York for Great British Railways, acknowledging that partners such as the business community, City of York Council, and North Yorkshire County Council will have a significant role in signing off the bid.

Government Response

Chris Heaton-Harris

Acknowledged the contributions and points made by other MPs regarding York's railway heritage. Stated that Great British Railways will be based outside London to bring the railway closer to people beyond the capital city, promoting levelling up. Mentioned the importance of buy-in from local stakeholders for such a significant headquarters move. Announced that the criteria for selecting the national headquarters would be detailed before or at the start of the new year.

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