GBR headquarters competition heats up

The contest to be the host town or city for the future headquarters of Great British Railways is warming up, after the competition was formally launched just before the weekend. A new candidate has emerged, with Barrow now joining Derby, Doncaster, Milton Keynes and York. A Bill to create Great British Railways is expected to be lodged in Parliament before the summer recess, and it could take over responsibility for the nation’s railways in 2023.

More BAME and female recruits join Govia Thameslink

The number of apprentices recruited by Govia Thameslink Railway last year exceeded a target of 200 by almost 20 per cent, the operator has said. More than a third of new recruits this year were women (34 per cent) while 27 per cent were Black and Minority Ethnic. GTR apprenticeship specialist David Jackson said: ‘Working in rail provides an opportunity for people of all ages to invigorate their careers in an industry which provides first class training and long-term job prospects.’