HOW SUPPORTERS GREETED THE NEWS
WILL ROGERS, managing director, East Midlands Railway, said: “We are proud to support Derby’s bid to become the new home of Great British Railways and welcome their inclusion in the national shortlist.
“Derby is our home, an historic centre of railway excellence and well located in the heart of the Midlands, providing excellent transport links to towns and cities across the country. We look forward to the public vote, formal visit and the opportunity to showcase why Derby would make an excellent home for Great British Railways.”
KATE MARTIN, is deputy principal at Derby College Group (DCG) whose estate includes the iconic Roundhouse in Pride Park - part of the former loco works.
She said: “The shortlist announcement is great news for Derby. As the city’s FE college with strong employer and curriculum links to the rail industry, we are fully behind Derby’s bid to bring the headquarters of Great British
Railways to the city. This will create high quality jobs for many, including our alumni, and act as a catalyst to further inward investment.”
RICHARD KELLY, managing director at Loram, said: “Loram is delighted to back Derby’s bid for the new headquarters of Great British Railways. Our US parent company made a conscious decision to base Loram UK in Derby, which is at the heart of the railway. With unrivalled
access to a dynamic and diverse supply chain, as well as a highly skilled talent pool, it makes perfect sense to base GBR in this City.”
JUSTIN STROUD, managing director, Europe at Sperry Rail said: “Derby is the location of Sperry’s European Headquarters because of its connectivity. After 20+ years of conducting very successful business from Derby, I would personally say GBR would be mad not to use the centre of the United Kingdom as the location to grow the Great British Railway.”
PROFESSOR KATHRYN MITCHELL CBE DL, vice-chancellor at the University of Derby, said: “It is fantastic news that Derby has made the shortlist and we are delighted that the University of Derby is a partner in this important bid.
“Through our Rail Research and Innovation Centre we support collaborative research and innovation projects, helping to modernise the railway through digital and low carbon solutions.
“We are also ideally placed to provide the key skills needed to support the anchor employers and supply chain, as well as business support dedicated to the rail and transport sector that will enable growth and create more jobs in the region.”
MICHAEL HULME, Site Engineering Director at Alstom said: “As the UK’s leading designer, builder and maintainer of trains, we’re proud to call Derby home. The city has been building trains for Britain and the world since 1839 and continues to do so today. We’re delighted to support the city’s bid.”
RUPERT BRENNAN-BROWN, a Derby-based rail expert, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the strength and breadth of support for Derby’s bid that we’ve received from across the East Midlands with numerous MPs and local authorities, it feels like the entire region is behind Derby.”
COUNCILLOR BAGGY SHANKER, Leader of Derby Labour Group: “Great news that Derby is on the shortlist to become the home of GBR. We all need to unite in the city and region to back and vote for Derby as it’s the only obvious choice given our history but more importantly our unique positioning and future ambitions as a centre of excellence in engineering and innovation”.