Carlisle MP John Stevenson is supporting the city’s bid to house the new headquarters of Great British Railways.

Back in October, the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps announced that a competition would take place to find a location for the headquarters outside London.

Towns and cities outside the capital have been given the opportunity to participate in the Great British Railways national headquarters selection process, which is being run by the Great British Railways Transition Team on behalf of the Department for Transport.

The competition will seek to recognise places with a rich railway heritage, strong links to the national network and public support for the selected location, creating a great opportunity to promote communities as the proud home for the start of a new era in Britain’s railways.

The new HQ will see the home of our railways moved out of London, spreading opportunities, and levelling up communities across the country.

Local economies will be further boosted by a number of regional headquarters, which will place decision making and investment at the heart of the communities who use those railways day-to-day.

The new organisation will also work closely with partners across the sector, including freight operators and suppliers, to help deliver a customer-focused rail system.

Cities have until Wednesday, March 16 to register their interest for the role.

Afterwards, the GBR Transition Team will shortlist the best applications in May, after which a public vote will help determine the winning location.

This announcement follows the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, which sets out the Conservative Government’s plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity, with improving transport a driver of this mission.

Discussing the idea of Carlisle becoming the operator’s new home, John Stevenson MP said: “Carlisle’s strong, historical links to our nation’s railways make it an ideal location for the new Great British Railways headquarters and I will be backing their bid all the way.

"This HQ would bring new highly skilled jobs to the area, and I urge local residents, leaders, and business groups to get behind our bid.”