Great British Railways headquarters

Great British Railways will bring together track and train for the first time in a generation, acting as the railway’s guiding mind to deliver a simpler, better railway for its customers and funders.

Great British Railways’ headquarters (GBR HQ) will be in Derby.

GBR HQ’s role will be to support and enable regional teams across Britain to deliver a single, integrated national network. Already the home to Europe’s largest rail cluster as well as global leaders in aerospace and nuclear innovation, Derby provides Great British Railways with the ideal environment to seize the opportunities of a reformed railway and enhance the industry’s contribution to the UK’s prosperity.

Proximity to GBR’s regional partners, the rail industry supply chain, and its customers is integral to creating this centre of accountability, collaboration, and innovation. To achieve these ambitions, the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) has been working closely with partners in Derby and across the country.

Working with our partners in Derby

Since Derby’s status as the future headquarters for Great British Railways was announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in March 2023, we have been welcomed by a community of partners in Derby and across the East Midlands.

GBRTT and our partners recognise that collaboration and aligning strategies is critical to achieve our goals. This network includes Derby City Council, Derby College Group, Derby-based Rail Forum, and Marketing Derby.

The insight of our partners is improving how GBRTT supports efforts to improve how rail’s suppliers and procurers work together. Our engagement is informing how GBRTT plans for the role that GBR HQ can perform, as well as challenge our strategies for how Great British Railways will better reflect the communities it will serve.

Being part of Europe’s largest rail cluster

Locating Great British Railways within Europe’s largest rail cluster is a core component of how GBR HQ will help create a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain.

Being a part of Britain’s largest community of rail innovation will help Great British Railways become more collaborative and creative in tackling future challenges, improve communication with the part of the industry where 80% of rail’s spending happens and increase our contribution to regional and national growth and employment.

We have, and will continue to, host and support events in Derby to create the relationships needed to drive innovation and improve the dialogue with the whole rail industry – such as through our Commercial Partnerships Sounding Board.

Our plans going forward

Our plans are already under way in Derby. Earlier this year, GBRTT opened an office in the heart of the rail cluster – to start taking advantage of what Derby has to offer immediately.

We have also worked with our property agents to undertake an assessment of the real estate options available for GBR HQ. This work is informing our design process – which we will share when we can.

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