RAIL Minister Wendy Morton has visited York to learn more about the city’s bid to become the home of Great British Railways.

Her fact-finding visit today came just weeks after York joined Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster and Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the official shortlist to be chosen as the national headquarters of GBR - the single, accountable public body responsible for overseeing rail infrastructure, ticket prices and timetables.

City leaders have said that basing the HQ in York could have a major impact on York, estimating it would add £110 million to the economy and create 1,600 new jobs.

Amongst those meeting the Minister were York Central MP Rachael Maskell, York council leader Keith Aspden, University of York vice-chancellor Charlie Jeffery, National Railway Museum director Judith McNichol and York St John University vice chancellor Karen Bryan.

The Minister said that for each of the six towns and cities, GBR was an opportunity for jobs and skills, 'to put their town or city on the map.'

She said a whole range of factors involved in selecting the location for the HQ, included connectivity and value for money, and she had to remain “absolutely impartial."

During a two-hour visit to York, she was shown around the station, the Aviva building and the Hudson Quarter, on the original site of York’s first permanent railway station.

She said: “I’ve had a tour round some of the buildings that are at the heart of the rail industry here with councillors and local MPs to get a flavour of what York is doing and what York has on offer – from the development of York railway station, the land around it and the opportunities for the future.”

A public vote is open until August 15 for people to say where they would like to win, but the final decision will be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later this year.

Council leader Coun Keith Aspden said York was the “natural home” for GBR, adding: “Everybody knows that in many ways York has unrivalled rail heritage and is the home of the National Railway Museum, but they know less about the rail jobs already in the city and less about some of the really clever work going on in science and technology.”

York Central MP Rachael Maskell said businesses were already saying they would invest in the city if the bid was to succeed.

She added: “It’s not just about York, it’s about the region – and the levelling up agenda is so dependent upon transportation."

Vice-chancellor Charlie Jeffrey said GBR could help York’s most disadvantaged.

“We want to create pathways for children in those communities to fulfil their potential and the rail industry is going to be one of the most important industries in this city,” he said.