There is a fine irony in the juxtaposition of your editorial (The Guardian view on the future of rail: managed decline is no way forward, 29 May) and John Harris’s article on the success story that is Milton Keynes (Want to see where Britain’s political future will be decided? Head to Milton Keynes, 29 May).
You remind readers that in the summer there will be a “popular vote” to help determine the location of the future headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR), which will supersede Network Rail and oversee both services and infrastructure. The administrative HQ of Network Rail may be located in London, but its operational HQ is in Milton Keynes, where it acts as a key national centre for engineering, infrastructure, support services and national timetabling, and is the city’s biggest and best-known employer, with around 5,000 staff. It is located in a splendidly modern building adjacent to the main railway station.
