Businesses urged to back city 's rail HQ bid
Chamber members are being urged to back Birmingham 's bid to become the national headquarters of Great British Railways.
Greater British Railways is a new organisation set up by the Government to oversee the UK 's rail transport.
It will replace Network Rail in being responsible for infrastructure and contracting rail services along with setting and collecting fares and organising timetables.
The West Midlands Combined Authority is leading the campaign to house the HQ in Birmingham.
Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York will now go to a public vote where people can choose the town or city they think makes the best case to operate the rail headquarters.
The government said applications were measured against six criteria including alignment to levelling-up objectives, connectivity, opportunities for GBR; railway heritage, value for money and public support.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber and Black Country Chamber of Commerce are working together to encourage local businesses to back the campaign and support Birmingham 's bid for the HQ.
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “We 're a city-region with a long history and exceptional future in rail investment and innovation. Securing GB Railways HQ would help to attract even more investment and create a raft of high skilled jobs along the way. So I 'm urging our local businesses to get behind the campaign and help bring the HQ to our fantastic city - it only takes a minute to vote for Birmingham today. ”
“As a Chamber we played our part in supporting Birmingham 's bid to house GB Railways during the initial application stages and we are delighted to see it has made it onto the final shortlist.
“Looking the criteria set by Government, it 's clear to see that Birmingham ticks all the boxes - whether it 's building upon our distinguished rail heritage, our history of innovation or the fantastic connectivity we have to different parts of the country.
“It also makes perfect sense to compliment the work of HS2 of region by bringing GB railways to our city and maximising the huge economic potential at the heart of our region. ”