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Here is today's Northern Agenda: By ROB PARSONS - July 5 2022 He's been described as deploying an "X-Factor style public vote" to help decide the headquarters of the new public sector body which will oversee Britain’s railways.
And today - a few weeks later than originally planned - Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did his best to channel Ant and Dec as he announced the shortlist of six places vying to host the base of Great British Railways (GBR).
Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York, as well as Birmingham and Derby, are all in the running, meaning there will be plenty of Northern interest in the Department for Transport contest.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk