A decision on the Rail HQ location is expected before Easter according to Transport Secretary, Mark Harper.

His comments come as Dr. Kieran Mullan met with Rail Minister Hew Merriman, MP to continue the push for Crewe to be the new home for Great British Railways.

Kieran commented, "It is not long until we learn if we have been successful in our campaign to make Crewe the home of the UK's railways, bringing new highly skilled jobs to the area. Crewe's strong historic links to our nation's railways make it an ideal location.

 "Behind the scenes, I have continued pushing the case for Crewe to receive this valuable investment - holding meetings with decision makers such as the Transport Secretary and the Rail Minister."

Whilst the home of Great British Railway is due before Easter, the legislative powers won't be decided until later in the summer.

Mark Foster, MP said at the George Bradshaw Address yesterday,

"I am pleased to announce that the winner of the GBR HQ competition will be revealed before Easter. And by the summer, we will respond to the consultation on GBR's legislative powers."

He did also outline the purpose of the organisation by saying.

The industry has long called for a guiding mind to coordinate the network so GBR will be responsible for track and train, as well as revenue and cost.

"This means finally treating the railway as the whole system it should be rather than a web of disparate interests that it's become. Passengers won't longer face the excuse-making and blame-shifting of years past. Instead, GBR will be wholeheartedly customer focused.

Last July, the Department for Transport announced that Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster, Newcastle, and York had been shortlisted to host the headquarters of GBR.