Government names Great British Railways chair

The chairman of Barclays Bank UK, Sir John Kingman, has been appointed chair of Great British Railways (GBR), the government has announced.

His selection comes after it was revealed the headquarters for GBR will be built on the former Duckworth Square, next to the Vaillant Live entertainment venue, in Derby city centre.

GBR will bring responsibility for tracks and trains under a single organisation for the first time since privatisation in the mid-1990s.

Sir John said: "It is a privilege to be involved in rail's next chapter, making sure that public ownership of the railways delivers change that people can see."

Sir John, who is also the former chairman of Legal & General Group plc and Tesco Personal Finance, will start his duties immediately and play a key role in shaping the new public sector body, the Department for Transport said on Friday.

A former civil servant, Sir John previously worked as the second permanent secretary to the Treasury, where he played a role in the government's response to the 2008 financial crisis, including the nationalisation of Northern Rock bank.

He was awarded a knighthood for public service in 2016.

"I want to help to build a simpler, more unified railway that puts the interests of the passengers and customers first, supports growth and creates opportunity across the country," he added.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Sir John Kingman's appointment marks a defining moment in our mission to put passengers first and rebuild Britain's railways.

"His exceptional record across government and industry makes him precisely the leader we need to steer Great British Railways through this landmark transformation."

The Department for Transport said the development of the Becketwell site would bring hundreds of jobs to the city and boost the regional economy by £151m.

Construction of the headquarters for the state-owned body is due to begin early next year and be completed by spring 2029.

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