Why York should get new Great British Railways HQ

The new body will take over from Network Rail and oversee the future of the nation's railways - but only one town or city will be able to host the Great British Railways hub.

City of York Council is set to launch an official bid for the HQ - describing the York Central site as "an ideal location".

Meanwhile MPs across the political spectrum have pinned their hopes on making York the "future of rail".

And now, Andrew Digwood, vice president for the York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, has revealed the Chamber is "fully behind the city’s bid".

Transport secretary Grant Shapps kickstarted the competition on Monday with the chosen town or city becoming the single, accountable public body responsible for running Britain’s railways.

The competition will “recognise towns and cities with a rich railway history that are strongly linked to the network”, according to the government.

Read what we know so far: York will bid to be home to new national body for country's railways

Mr Digwood told The Press: "I can’t think of a better home than the city of York for the new HQ of Great British Railways, and the Chamber is fully behind the city’s bid.

"Here in York we have a long and proud history as a railway city, but perhaps more importantly, we have some excellent businesses and cutting-edge R&D in the fields of rail technologies and specialist engineering.

"We’re at the heart of the British railway network and as a city to live and work in, there’s so much to offer GBR employees many of whom I hope, should GBR come here, will be recruited from within York and North Yorkshire’s workforce."

Read more: Why it makes 'perfect sense' to bring the national railway HQ to York

There are around 5,000 rail jobs based in York already - representing about 10 per cent of the national rail industry.

Train operators based in the city include LNER, Northern and Grand Central. Network Rail employs 1,000 people in York and its training hub is based in the city.