Rail minister Wendy Morton visited York today to learn more about the city’s bid to be crowned the home of Britain’s railways.
She is touring all six places shortlisted to become the headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR), which will oversee rail infrastructure, ticket prices and timetables.
During a three-hour visit to York on Monday, she was shown around the station, the Aviva building and the Hudson Quarter, on the original site of York’s first permanent railway station.
And she was impressed…
Wendy Morton said:
I’ve really been struck here by what I’ve seen, by the enthusiasm that I’ve seen and the people that I’ve listened to. I’ve really been struck by what I’ve been shown, the opportunities that are here. And that sense that York’s got a proud history, but York is also looking to the future.
If York’s bid was successful, what would it mean for the city?
It will mean that there will be jobs coming to York as part of that HQ. This was also a big part of the government’s agenda around rail reform, around the creation of Great British Railways, which is putting the track and the train closer together, putting passengers at the heart and focus of of what we do, but I think it’s much more than that. It’s about the greater opportunities.
Ms Morton, who is from North Yorkshire, said she had to remain “absolutely impartial” as she still had to visit Birmingham, Derby, Doncaster and Newcastle, the other places bidding for the prize.
A public vote is open until August 15 for people to say where they would like to win, but the final decision will be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later this year.
City leaders accompanied Ms Morton on her tour round the city. Here’s what they said…
Rachael Maskell
The York Central MP said:
We’ve been hearing from rail companies about the innovation which they’ve been able to take just because they’re here in York. But also hearing what it means for our city to level up – to give the future generations opportunity. Bringing the headquarters of Great British Railways to York is really about the consolidation of our industry.
There’s a public vote which closes on the 15 August and we need people to vote to say they want Great British Railways in York because it’s about jobs and our future.
Keith Aspden
City of York Council leader Keith Aspden said it had been fantastic to have rail minister Wendy Morton in the city:
We’ve been taking her around a number of places in the city. So from the railway station, to West Offices to Aviva, to the new Hudson Quarter building. And it’s all been part of our pitch to say that York is, for me, an absolute no brainer to be the home of GBR.
We have over 10% of all of the UK workforce in rail in the city. And a lot of that work is about the future of railways. So how can you use data technology and innovation to make sure that railways are more efficient, and more productive in the future, from clearing leaves, to looking for problems on the line.
If you can bring GBR to York, it’s about new jobs, new skills, not just for York but how we can level up the north of England.
We’ve got to be confident that York is one of the front runners, but we can’t be complacent.
Prof Charlie Jeffery
The vice chancellor of the University of York said:
What York can bring to this bid is, of course, that fantastic heritage. But it’s also got the future of rail in its hands. Fantastic science happening at the University of York and elsewhere, but also pathways for people from all backgrounds, especially from our disadvantaged communities, working through our universities, working through our colleges, working through our schools, to make sure that the future rail industry is open to everyone who can fulfil their potential.
The public vote is open until August 15 for people to say where they would like to win, but the final decision will be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later this year.
The base could be on the York Central site, near the promised civil service hub, or in West Offices as a temporary home if it is needed more quickly.
Business and education chiefs were on hand to tell the minister about work going in York – from using data and cameras to ensure the trains run on time, to ways of clearing leaves from the line.
There are around 5,000 rail jobs based in York already. Train operators based in the city include LNER, Northern Railway and Grand Central – and Network Rail employs 1,000 people.
Criteria which will help make the final decision include: alignment with levelling-up; connectivity and railway heritage.
Additional reporting: local democracy reporter Joe Cooper
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