Rail Campus Derby to become 'beating heart of the UK’s rail network'
The great and good of the rail industry - supply chain and direct manufacturers - have had the ambitious plans for Great British Railways (GBR) spelled out for them during a Rail Campus Derby conference in the city. Among them was Transport Secretary Lou Haigh who paid tribute to the "passion and commitment" of people in the city towards the railway.
Derby was chosen to be the GBR headquarters more than 12 months ago under the previous Government and, despite delays in being set up, the new Labour Government has pledged to bring it on board. Now GBR and the existing rail infrastructure of research, development, manufacture and learning and training in Derby are being harnessed to create what has been dubbed Rail Campus Derby.
Ms Haigh said: "Derby has always been the home of the railway - a city of innovations and heritage. Today is about reinforcing Derby's central role in shaping railways of the future. I will oversee one of the biggest overhauls of the railways in a generation.
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"GBR - it will not be British Rail or Network or Network Rail 2.0 - it will usher in a new era for the railways. The Railways Bill later this Parliament will establish GBR and get the railways back on track and. It will unify track and train and we will grow freight. Rolling stock will be purchased and we will be ending the boom and bust era where companies do not have work on their books.
"In Derby, we are standing in the biggest concentration of rail expertise in Europe. GBR will be joining the existing rail industry here, providing the leadership this industry has sorely needed. A new era for our railways and a new era for Derby."
Afterwards Ms Haigh told Derbyshire Live that there will be money available to carry out her ambitions. She said: "We are absolutely committed to headquartering, and GBR are already working to decide where that can be and the people of Derby should be assured that they are absolutely at the heart of the railways' future."
Rufus Boyd, who is lead director of the GBR transition team, already in Derby preparing for the organisation to be installed eventually, said: At its heart, Rail Campus Derby is about GBR and the rail industry taking advantage of what already exists here and help grow Europe's largest rail cluster even further.
"Our ambition is that the GBR HQ will be an anchor for the campus. Rail Campus Derby will have industry partners, the supply chain, government bodies, university partners coming together to drive improvement for passengers and freight customers."
A specially-produced Rail Campus Derby prospectus revealed the five locations where GBR headquarters could be located. They include: Becketwell; Derby Market Place; Midland House, Pride Point and RTC Derby, formerly the Railway Technical Centre in London Road.
It also reveals more details about a masterplan for a Station Quarter in the city. This will be a mixed-use development featuring homes, offices, hotels and retails spaces supported by improved transport links such as a dedicated bus lane and public realm improvements outside the station and in the city centre. A draft masterplan is now out for consultation to give people a chance to comment on the proposals.
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Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of the city council, told the conference: "It’s reassuring to know that Derby is on this government’s radar and that they are committed to the future of Britain’s railways.
"It really is great that so many people want to hear more about what Derby has to offer the rail sector. We are justifiably proud of our railway heritage, and we will fight to preserve it.
More than 11,000 people are employed in the city's rail sector, and Derby's strong, rail-related education programmes and opportunities will ensure that this industry has the workforce it needs to thrive for years to come. We’re looking forward to bringing railway administration to the city with the arrival of GBR. A move that will not only bring key jobs and more skilled workers into the city, but a strategic government operation as well.
"The next chapter of our story - Rail Campus Derby - will bring all facets of this vital industry together and be the catalyst for wider economic growth in our city and beyond."