• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      ‘Topping out’ celebrated at multi-million pound Aycliffe development

      ‘Topping out’ celebrated at multi-million pound Aycliffe development

      NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

      NC Group strengthens board with new appointment

      How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

      How Aspire programme is lifting the lid of Aycliffe Business Park for our young people

      🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

      🌍 Promote your business on a national stage!

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Captain Chris chalks up 750 not out for Aycliffe

      Captain Chris chalks up 750 not out for Aycliffe

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
County Durham bids for Great British Railways headquarters
Home
News

County Durham bids for Great British Railways headquarters

March 29th, 2022 Martin Walker News 0 comments 926

top banner

County Durham’s illustrious rail heritage, thriving train building industry and pioneering cultural and economic ambitions make it the ideal home for the Great British Railways (GBR) headquarters.

That is the message from Durham County Council, which has submitted a bid to house the new national rail body in County Durham in conjunction with its quest to be UK City of Culture 2025.

The Government launched a competition to identify a location outside of London for the GBR headquarters last month, as part of its levelling up agenda.

The winning location will benefit from investment and the creation of highly skilled jobs, helping to spread opportunities across the UK.

Towns and cities with strong links to railways have been encouraged to enter the competition and, for County Durham, there is no shortage of connections.

Not only is it home to Shildon, the world’s first railway town, but it is a major player in the future of the industry, with the next generation of high-speed trains being built at Hitachi Rail Europe’s Newton Aycliffe factory.

Locomotion museum in Shildon, meanwhile, tells the story of County Durham’s role in the early development of the railways and attracts visitors from around the world. And thanks to a £5.9m redevelopment, it will soon house the largest museum collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe.

The creation of GBR comes at a special time for County Durham and the wider region. Preparations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2025 are well underway. Steam train journeys, exhibitions, parades and arts and theatre events are just some of the highlights in store.

County Durham’s rail heritage is also an important theme within Durham’s countywide bid to be UK City of Culture 2025. Earlier this month, the county was one of just four locations to be shortlisted for the prestigious title from the 20 places that applied.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We believe County Durham would provide the perfect home for GBR and that this offers a brilliant opportunity to build on our historic links to the rail industry.

“The timing of the competition could not be better for County Durham, with our bid to be UK City of Culture 2025 still very much on track.

“Together with our partners at Durham University and Culture Durham, the bid draws upon our rail heritage – and the spirit of innovation at its core – to champion growth and creativity.

“Housing the GBR headquarters in County Durham complements this aim and would bring hundreds of skilled jobs to the area.

“This is a key priority emerging from our Big Econ-versation, which is engaging residents and businesses in developing a new inclusive economic strategy for the county.

“County Durham’s role in the development of the railways is not just confined to the history books, it is happening now, and that is why we are the ideal choice for this investment.”

GBR is a new public body that will oversee rail transport in the UK from 2023, replacing Network Rail as the operator of rail infrastructure. It will also control the contracting of train operations and the setting of fares and timetables for most of England.

Jim Brewin, head of UK and Ireland, Hitachi Rail, said: “Hitachi Rail’s investment in County Durham has delivered tangible regional growth but I believe rail can have an even greater role in levelling up the North East and encouraging UK innovation. GBR’s headquarters can be that economic driver.

“Considering GBR will have a vital role in achieving Net Zero by 2050, it makes sense that it becomes part of the innovative green technology hub that is emerging here in the North East.

“If GBR wants to deliver levelling up and capitalise on the UK’s Net Zero future – its home has to be County Durham.”

To take part in the Big Econ-versation, visit www.durhamecon-versation.co.uk/.

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Awards sponsorship adds up for fast-growing accountancy group
Previous article Aycliffe back to winning ways at Ashington

Related News

Palestine Action targets Aycliffe firm in double attack News
July 4th, 2025

Palestine Action targets Aycliffe firm in double attack

Consultation launched for new County Durham Plan News
July 1st, 2025

Consultation launched for new County Durham Plan

Council committed to supporting Armed Forces News
June 25th, 2025

Council committed to supporting Armed Forces

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Jul 4th 2:45 PM
Community

Aycliffe students visit Knife Angel on photography trip

Jul 4th 10:14 AM
News

Palestine Action targets Aycliffe firm in double attack

Jul 3rd 2:41 PM
Community

Grammy-nominated Country star to play exclusive Aycliffe show

Jul 2nd 12:52 PM
Sport

New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

Jul 2nd 9:12 AM
Community

Consultation proposed on changes to council tax support in County Durham

Jul 1st 11:15 AM
News

Consultation launched for new County Durham Plan

Jun 30th 6:16 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Jun 27th 12:42 PM
Business

‘Topping out’ celebrated at multi-million pound Aycliffe development

Jun 26th 11:39 AM
Community

College students lend a hand in revitalising Pioneering Care Centre

Jun 25th 10:18 AM
News

Council committed to supporting Armed Forces

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now