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Why Doncaster

New Great British Railways HQ

Doncaster's Bid for Headquarters of Great British Railways.

Doncaster is the perfect location for GBR HQ

Doncaster is bidding to be the home of the headquarters of Great British Railways. Given its rail heritage, its central point on the network, its rail industry skills base and the contribution this would bring to levelling up the area.

What is Great British Railways Headquarters (GBR HQ)?

Central to its plans for restructuring how Britain’s railways are managed, the Government is setting up a new body called Great British Railways which will bring together the operation of the network infrastructure and train services. Ministers have invited bids to host the headquarters of this new organisation.

Why is Doncaster so perfect for GBR HQ?

A Rich Rail Heritage
An Established Rail Cluster
Enviable Connectivity
A Huge Levelling Up Opportunity
A Business Led Focus

Doncaster’s Rail Heritage and Rail Cluster

Doncaster has a deep-rooted rail heritage dating back to 1853 with the opening of the Doncaster Locomotive Works. World famous locomotives such as the ‘Flying Scotsman’ and ‘Mallard’ were amongst hundreds built in the city.
The tradition continues with Doncaster being home to over 50 rail companies employing over 8,000 people. Throughout South Yorkshire there are over two hundred rail and engineering companies including rail operations, power supply and distribution, traction, rolling stock and advanced manufacturing. This gives South Yorkshire an unrivalled skilled workforce and world-class training facilities and amounts to the Region forming a major rail industry cluster.
Having the UK Rail Research and Innovation Centre at Unipart Rail in Doncaster, and Digirail within it, is tangible evidence of the innovation, drive and ambition for the industry within Doncaster.
In addition, Doncaster boasts a world class rail college campus. The National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure is producing a highly skilled new generation of professionals to lead the UK’s future rail, transport and infrastructure workforce.
Having the GBR HQ will further cement the town’s international recognition as a rail cluster and demonstrate that it has the confidence of government as a centre of rail excellence. This will help to attract further investment from rail industry companies which will assist the area in levelling up.

Doncaster’s Connectivity

Doncaster occupies a prime position at the heart of the rail network in terms of daily commute times (York 20 mins, Leeds 30 mins, Sheffield 22 mins) providing the opportunity to expand the recruitment base for the new HQ and work with other rail hubs.
Doncaster also has great rail connectivity to the whole of Great Britain including London in 90 mins, Edinburgh in 180 mins Cardiff in 240 mins and Manchester in 80 mins
It already has a wide labour market catchment area with around 1.6 million people living within 30 miles and thousands commute into the town.
Doncaster has one of the best transport and logistics hubs in England, an international airport that is expanding rapidly, direct access to motorways and two rail freight terminals including iPort, the UK’s biggest intermodal rail freight facility.

Doncaster’s Levelling Up Opportunity

Its northern and post-industrial area makes Doncaster a prime spot to become a linchpin for Government plans on levelling up. The town features in the top 5 areas of those needing levelling up.
The region has a higher share of low-skilled jobs and a lower share of managerial and professional jobs compared to the national average. The HQ would represent a significant growth in the number of high skilled and high wage employment opportunities available in the area.
The town has well established education and skills pathways and assets for rail engineering and supply chain skills with engineering included at one of the Centres of Excellence under its University City. Doncaster is delivering Engineering T-Levels through Doncaster College and its new UTC, with pathways to rail-based degrees, apprenticeships and employment offering rail as an attractive career.
Although the number of people who will re-locate is unknown, the HQ may, over time, house up to 1,000 staff. That would mean up to 1,840 extra jobs in the town
The bid is a cohesive part of the City Region’s Strategic Economic Plan to grow the economy in a greener, fairer way through improved transport links and through growth in higher value and higher technology jobs.

Doncaster’s business led bid

A key feature of our bid is that it is a business-led partnership involving key industry players alongside the LEP, the Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield University and Doncaster Council. The bid is supported by world leading rail companies including Unipart Rail, Volker Rail, TTS Rail, DB Cargo UK and iPort Rail.

GBRHQ Bid Document:

For a more detailed look at Doncaster's bid you can download the submission document below:

Doncaster's GBRHQ Bid

Rail Minister Wendy Morton MP welcomed to Doncaster

On the 12th August, the Minister visited Doncaster’s rail cluster – including major employers, the Danum Gallery, the Library and Museum and NCATI (National College of Advanced Transport & Infrastructure) and heard from business leaders and students on the future for the railways in South Yorkshire.

The tour follows similar visits to the five other shortlisted locations in the running to be the HQ for the new Great British Railways organisation.

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, welcomed the Rail Minister to Doncaster and said: “This bid is simply about one thing: Doncaster! I am proud of the way this bid has been collectively worked on across the city and for the city. We were ready to be a city and we became one, I believe we are ready to become the home of Great British Railways.

“Doncaster’s heritage with rail dates back to 1853 and world famous locomotives, hundreds of them in-fact, were born here. Today that tradition continues with over 50 rail companies basing Doncaster as their home, employing over 8,000 people. By becoming the HQ for Great British Railways, we propel our workforce, our economy, our skill-sector and we make our local ancestors proud.

“I back the bid, I believe in the bid.

“I want to thank the Rail Minister for visiting our great city today and allowing us the opportunity to showcase why we believe we are ready to become the HQ for Great British Railways.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “The whole region is proud to back the bid for Doncaster to become the new HQ for Great British Railways. We have an incredibly strong case – a fantastic rail heritage, a central point on the network and a region ready to reap the economic and skills benefits that it would bring. I know that we have confidently demonstrated that opportunity to the Rail Minister and her team today, and I hope they have listened.

“Over two hundred rail and engineering companies base themselves throughout South Yorkshire, including rail operations, power supply and distribution, traction, rolling stock and advanced manufacturing teams. We have an unrivalled rail cluster founded upon people, skills and partnerships. We deserve to be the home, the head and the heart of the new Great British Railways.”

Speaking shortly after Doncaster was announced as a contender to become the HQ for Great British Railways earlier in the year, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: "This is fantastic news for Doncaster. Our world-leading railways have well-served this country for 200 years and this is a huge step in our reforms. Home of the most famous train in the world, The Flying Scotsman, Doncaster has all the potential to help shape our network for the next 200 years and level up the lives of its residents and communities.

“Great British Railways will create a truly sustainable, modern and fair railway network for passengers and freight customers."

A photo gallery and video of the visit can be seen here: