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Great British Railways HQ: Darlington Bid — [Sir Gary Streeter in the Chair]
07 December 2021
Lead MP
Peter Gibson
Responding Minister
Chris Heaton-Harris
Tags
EconomyTransport
Word Count: 4640
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Peter Gibson raised concerns about great british railways hq: darlington bid — [sir gary streeter in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The hon. Member for Darlington asks the government to consider locating the headquarters of Great British Railways in his town, citing its unique history and current improvements such as the development of Bank Top station, a freeport along the River Tees, and plans to restore railway heritage sites.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The hon. Member for Darlington is concerned that despite losing out on major railway-related developments in the past, such as the National Railway Museum and a new museum site, his constituency retains its connection to railways through local businesses like Railpen and the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. He highlights the historical significance of the town as the birthplace of the Stockton and Darlington railway, noting that it was here where locomotion No. 1 was first conceived and built. The hon. Member also expresses worries over potential changes to train services from London North Eastern Railway which might reduce connectivity for his constituents.
Alex Cunningham
Lab
Stockton North
Asked the hon. Member for Darlington to work with him and others to bring Great British Railways headquarters to Stockton, considering that his constituency is already receiving civil service jobs. There is a bypass around Darlington, which the Minister should consider. He was teased about ensuring Great British Railways is truly British given that many railway companies are foreign-owned, such as Chiltern Railways now being run by German state railways.
Jacob Young
Lab
Redcar
Expressed his passion for seeing Redcar train station redeveloped and mentioned the need for a station at Ferryhill.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton West
Contended that Stockton, not Darlington, is the real birthplace of the railways based on historical evidence. Emphasised the importance of Great British Railways coming to Stockton. Highlighted Stockton's historical ties to railways and its excellent transport links. Emphasised the highly skilled workforce available for Great British Railways should it be located there.
Paul Howell
Con
Stockton South
Congratulated the hon. Member for Darlington on securing the debate and agreed that Darlington was central to the historic railway line between Stockton and the west. Responded to Alex Cunningham's point about the Darlington bypass needing improvements and suggested placing Great British Railways next to Hitachi, a leading railway manufacturing company in Newton Aycliffe.
Rob Cook
Lab
Stockton North
The hon. Member for Stockton North highlights the importance of Ferryhill station and its connection to the town's rail history, advocating for restoration efforts similar to those in Darlington.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Wales
The hon. Member for Aberavon expresses support for Darlington's bid but adds that it is right to also consider other towns such as Stockton, which has strong railway heritage and modern connections.
Government Response
Chris Heaton-Harris
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Gary. I am not sure I have served under your chairmanship before. You might recall that I am a football referee in my spare time, and it feels as though we have had a bit of a derby between Stockton and Darlington this afternoon. Before I respond to the various points made by hon. Members, I want to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Peter Gibson) for securing this debate and putting across his points so forcefully and politely, and also for allowing his colleagues from across the Chamber to contribute. He is a very good parliamentarian and conducted this debate excellently. Only a couple of weeks ago I was in this Chamber debating the merits of York as a potential headquarters. It is genuinely heartening to see right hon. and hon. Members doing outstanding work up and down the country, preparing bids for their cities and celebrating the rich railway heritage of this country, no matter where it may be. The Government's aim is a world-class railway that works seamlessly as part of a wider transport network, delivering opportunities across the nations and regions of Great Britain. In the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, published in May this year, we set out the path towards a truly passenger-focused railway underpinned by new contracts that prioritise punctual and reliable services, rapid delivery of a ticketing revolution with new flexible and convenient tickets, and long-term proposals to build a modern, greener, and accessible network. The establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) is central to the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, which will provide a single, familiar brand and strong, unified leadership across the rail sector. GBR will be responsible for delivering better value, flexible fares, punctual and reliable services, and it will bring the ownership of infrastructure, fares, timetables, and planning under one roof. I am very happy to confirm that the national headquarters will be based outside of London, bringing the railway closer to the people and places it serves and ensuring skilled jobs and economic benefits are focused beyond the capital, in line with the Government's commitment to levelling up. The competition to find the national headquarters recognises towns and cities with rich railway histories strongly linked to the network, ensuring the headquarters will take pride of place at the heart of a new era for British railways. The reforms proposed under the Williams-Shapps plan for rail will transform our railways for the better, strengthening and securing them for the next generation. We have done this with flexible season tickets, and the transition from emergency recovery measures agreements to the new national rail contracts is underway, with the first tranche delivered in July 2020. GBR will continue to move fast in delivering reform.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.