TRANSPORT Secretary Transport Patrick McLoughlin has urged Derbyshire's rail companies to seize the "huge opportunities" presented by the Government's multi-billion pound investment in rail.
Speaking at the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum's annual conference this morning, Mr McLoughlin issued the rallying call to its members who are all involved in the rail industry.
As reported in the Derby Telegraph last week, over the next five years, Network Rail is set to spend billions of pounds to upgrade and electrify the nation's railways, including £1.6 billion which will be spent in the East Midlands.
Combined with government plans to invest billions more in rolling stock and the potential arrival of HS2, Mr McLoughlin told delegates that Derby, which is home to the largest cluster of rail companies in the world, had a key role to play.
He said: "With Network Rail spending £38 billion over the next five years there are huge opportunities for Derby's rail companies.
"We are already beginning to see tangible evidence of our investment - investment that is benefiting the Derby rail cluster.
"Many companies are stepping up to the plate, strengthening Derby's reputation as a world-class centre for rail.
"Electrification is not the only good news for Derby. Earlier this year, I was delighted to announce the awarding of the Crossrail contract to Bombardier.
"The economic benefits of this decision will be felt by our rail sector and the whole of Derby. It also represents an excellent opportunity for small and medium-sized companies.
"Overall the prospects for this industry are looking up. One of the things I've learned as Transport Secretary is that in the rail industry you need to think big and we need to grasp the opportunities while they are available.
"I want to see rail companies in Derby rise to the challenge for the prosperity of Derby, Derbyshire and the British rail industry."
The conference had added significance as this year Derby celebrates 175 years since the railways came to the city.
Also among the guest speakers was Clare Moriarty, director of the newly-former Rail Executive at the Department for Transport.
She said: "We are entering a period of historic opportunity for rail and there is no better place to say it than in Derby, the heart of the industry's supply chain.
"I hope the next 175 years of rail in Derby will be just as productive as the last 175."
