Matt Vickers says “railway is in Stockton’s DNA” as awaited competition launches to decide where Great British Rail Headquarters will be based. Matt is urging residents and supporters to sign the online petition to show their support for the new headquarters to be based in Stockton.
As part of the Conservative Government’s commitment to level up the country, the new Great British Railways HQ will be based outside of London and bring a number of high-skilled jobs to the winning location.
Local economies will be further boosted by a number of regional headquarters based across the country, putting decision making and investment at the heart of the communities who use those railways day-to-day.
The creation of Great British Railways was announced as a major pillar of the once in a generation reform launched by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. Great British Railways will be a single guiding mind that ends the fragmentation of the rail industry and drive benefits and improvements across the network.
Locations across the country with strong, historical links to the railway are encouraged to make the case for why they should be the new home of Great British Rail. The GBR Transition Team will shortlist the best applications in May, after which a public vote will help determine the winning location.
Bids to house the new HQ will be measured against six criteria:
• Alignment to Levelling Up objectives
• Connected and easy to get to
• Opportunities for Great British Railways
• Railway heritage and links to the network
• Value for money
• Public support
Residents and supporters are being encouraged to sign the online petition in order to express their support for the bid and increase the chances of Stockton being shortlisted for the public vote.
This announcement follows the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, which sets out the Conservative Government’s plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity, with improving transport a core driver of this mission. It includes twelve bold national levelling up missions, which will be given status in law, and shift Government focus and resources to Britain’s forgotten communities throughout the 2020s.
Matt Vickers said:
“Stockton’s intrinsic link to the world’s railways makes it the perfect choice for the new headquarters of Great British Rail.
“Railway is in Stockton’s DNA. It was here where the first rail of the Stockton & Darlington Railway was laid almost two decades ago and the first ever rail passenger was booked at the ticket office in St John’s Well.
“It is no wonder that the king of railways, Michael Portillo, has given his full backing to our bid.
“Public support is vital for our bid to be successful. I urge everyone to sign the petition and send a clear message to the Government that Stockton is ready and waiting to become the home of Great British Rail.”
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said:
“Our railways have kept this country moving for almost two hundred years but it’s time to kickstart a new age that will shape our network for the next two hundred.
“I’m calling on people across the country to make the case for why the true home of the railways is on your doorstep”
