Great British Railways takes shape as HQ and apprenticeship scheme confirmed

Rail passengers across Britain are a step closer to a railway run in their interests, as the site of Great British Railways’ (GBR) headquarters is unveiled today (15 October 2026) in Derby. Up to 600 young residents will also benefit from new apprenticeship places opening over the next 4 years. 

The decision marks a significant milestone in the government’s plan to establish a publicly owned railway that puts passengers and customers first, rather than private shareholders. Bringing operators’ services into public ownership is already delivering benefits, with fares frozen for the first time in 30 years, 76,000 extra seats a week introduced across the network, and a fleet of new GBR trains set to be built in Britain to serve major cities across the north whilst supporting thousands of jobs.

Construction of the brand-new development in at Becketwell, a brownfield site in the heart of Derby city centre, is expected to begin in early 2027 and be completed by spring 2029. The new HQ will bring hundreds of rail jobs to the city and an estimated £151 million boost to the region’s economy, supporting the government’s mission to drive growth in every postcode.

As next steps are taken towards creating GBR, the future of its workforce is also being secured. Up to 600 apprentices between 16 and 21 years old will enrol over the next 4 years on the rail foundation apprenticeship, with the first starters based in Derby helping to cement the city’s role as Europe’s largest rail hub and fostering the next generation of Britian’s railway workforce.