THE city has been unsuccessful in its bid to become the new home of Britain’s railways.

Worcester has been left off a shortlist of towns and cities by the Department for Transport to find the new Great British Railways headquarters.

Great British Railways will be a new public body that will oversee the country’s railways, ticket prices and timetables.

Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York have made the government’s shortlist with the successful town or city set to be decided through a public vote.

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The Department for Transport said the results of the vote would “play a crucial role” but a final decision will be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later this year.

A total of 42 towns and cities had bid to host the base after the competition to find a home for the headquarters was launched in October.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced plans for Great British Railways in May 2021 saying the new body would replace an "overcomplicated and fragmented" system.

Applications were measured against six key criteria, which were: alignment to levelling up objectives, connected and easy to get to, opportunities for GBR, railway heritage and links to the network, value for money and public support.

The bid in Worcester had been put forward by Worcestershire County Council with the support of Worcester City Council, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP), city MP Robin Walker and the county’s five other MPs. 

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The disappointing news comes just a day after councillors at Worcester City Council backed a £20 million bid for government ‘levelling up’ money which includes plans to redevelop the former Engine Works building in Shrub Hill Road.

In May, councillors also backed a £10 million business case which would see former ageing NHS offices Isaac Maddox House in Shrub Hill Road become a new business hub.

The redevelopment plan for the neighbouring canal-side site also includes new housing and a walking and cycling route from Shrub Hill to St Martin’s Quarter.

Work is also finally set to start on a huge £150 million transformation of the nearby Shrub Hill Industrial Estate after years of delays.