The official home of GBR will be located in Derby, the government has announced. The Midlands city has been chosen from a shortlist of six that also included Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

The new public body will own the rail infrastructure, procure passenger services and set most fares and timetables, the government has said. 

"Derby will become the heart of Great Britain's rail industry, bringing together track and train, as well as revenue and cost," said transport secretary Mark Harper. "This means we will finally treat the railway as the whole system it should be rather than a web of disparate interests that it's become."

The city was chosen through a "rigorous assessment process", as well as a public vote. Derby's application was said to have demonstrated "strong links to the wider network, well-established connections with the industry, supply chain and customers, as well as an extensive local...