Southampton in the running for Great British Railways first national HQ

On 4 October, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that a competition will be run to identify the first national headquarters for Great British Railways (GBR), the single and accountable public body responsible for running Britain’s railways. A commitment from government that the national headquarters will be based outside of London, ensuring skilled jobs, investment and economic benefits are focused beyond the capital, was also made.

This new public body was commissioned in May 2021 as part of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail which focuses on delivering extensive improvements that create a truly passenger-focused railway.

The future vision for the Plan for Rail can be summarised in 10 outcomes:

1. Modern passenger experience
2. Retail revolution
3. New way of working with the private sector
4. Economic recovery and financially sustainable railways
5. Greater control for local people and places
6. Cleaner, green railways
7. New offer for freight
8. Increased speed of delivery and efficient enhancements
9. Skilled, innovative workforce
10. Simpler industry structure

The competition for Great British Railways first national headquarters will recognise towns and cities with a rich railway history, for which Southampton has plenty. The city’s historical connection to the railways dates back to 1831 with Southampton Central railway station opening in 1895. It has been long recognised that the railway infrastructure in Southampton plays a vital role in supporting imports to and exports from the UK, often referred to as the ‘gateway to the world’. This is also recognised in the Solent Freeport BID proposals and the location of the Great British Railways HQ in Southampton offers the potential to create a clear link with one of the most significant international trade gateways in the world.

Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:

“We, and our partners across the city, are working hard to get Southampton moving and create new opportunities to improve our local economy. Having the first national headquarters of Great British Railways in Southampton will not only be an asset to our bid to become the UK City of Culture 2025, it will also level-up our communities by boosting employment, upskilling our workforce and supporting business growth.

“The pandemic has been an incredibly difficult period for businesses across the whole of the UK. As part of our approach to address it locally, we have entered into a new partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that aligns national programmes and initiatives with our local needs. The Great British Railways HQ project offers the potential added benefit of providing supported opportunities to those not currently in employment.”