Bids are have been submitted by city councils across the country to have the new Great British Railways headquarters, and Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, has shown his support for it to be located in the City of Derby.

Toby said, “Derby has a rich rail history and still has many businesses in the rail sector located in the city and surrounding areas. Derby’s geographic location and transport links are perfectly situated at the heart of the country’s rail network and would provide the ideal setting for linking together the North and South of Britain.

Locating the new HQ in Derby would be very beneficial for the Great  British Railways and would bring in much needed investment and skilled jobs to the city, which would benefit the whole of Derbyshire and the East Midlands region.”

Toby wrote to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, at the end of last year to suggest Derby as the perfect place as the home of railways.

Derby City’s bid is being backed by council leaders across the East Midlands including Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Leicester and Leicestershire. The Government has said a final decision will be made in summer.

Toby added, “Given the recent hugely disappointing Integrated Rail plan with regard to the East Midlands, locating the HQ in Derby would demonstrate that rail services in the East Midlands were still seen as important by the Government. I genuinely believe it is in the best interests of the country’s rail services and provides the best chance of making the Great British Railways a success.”