A
meeting


of
the
Great
British
Railways
Transition
Team
has
been
held
in
Derby
for
the
first
time,
after
the
city
was
named
as
the
future
headquarters
of
GBR.

But
although
members
of
the
team
were
welcomed
by
Derby
City
Council
at
the
Derby
Roundhouse,
there
is
still
no
sign
of
progress
with
finding
Parliamentary
time
for
the
essential
Act
of
Parliament
which
will
be
needed
to
give
GBT
powers
to
become the
industry’s
‘guiding
mind’.

These
will
include
taking
over
the
responsibilities
of
Network
Rail,
which
replaced
Railtrack
in
2002
and
became
a
public
sector
body
in
2014.
GBR
will
also
award
passenger
operating
contracts
and
supervise
them,
instead
of
the
Department
for
Transport.

Derby
City
Council
revealed
last
night
that
it
had
hosted
a
GBRTT
board
meeting
on
26
July.

The
council
said
‘The
visit
provided
an
opportunity
for
representatives
from
both
parties
to
discuss
progress
and
celebrate
the
potential
that
the
move
to
Derby
will
bring.’

Council
leader
Baggy
Shanker
said:
‘It
was
a
pleasure
to
welcome
the
board
of
Great
British
Railways
to
Derby
for
their
first
meeting
in
the
city.

‘The
Roundhouse
was
the
perfect
setting
to
showcase
the
city’s
unmatched
rail
heritage
once
again,
as
well
as
its
commitment
to
a
bright
future
of
skills,
learning
and
innovation.

‘I
was
delighted
to
be
able
to
share
in
positive
conversations
with
the
board
about
the
future
of
GBR
here
in
Derby.
The
atmosphere
in
the
room
was
buzzing
and
ideas
invigorating.’

GBRTT
lead
director
Anit
Chandarana
added:
‘We’re
grateful
to
Derby
City
Council
for
being
such
gracious
hosts
to
our
Board,
as
we
work
to
create
a
simpler,
better
railway
for
everyone
in
Britain.’

Details
of
the
Parliamentary
business
to
be
debated
in
2023-24
have
not
yet
been
announced
but
the
government
has
made
no
commitment
to
include
GBR
in
the
coming
session,
which
will
be
the
last
before
a
General
Election.