THE public are to be asked to cast their votes to help the government find a home for Great British Railways with Crewe expected to be among the frontrunners.

The competition to find the new home of Great British Railways (GBR) officially opens today (Saturday), with towns and cities across England, Wales and Scotland invited to apply.

Crewe featured in the competition announcement video which was championed by broadcaster Michael Portillo.

As part of the government's commitment to level-up the UK, and following the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, the new Great British Railways HQ will be based outside of London and bring a number of highly-skilled jobs to the winning location.

Locations across the country with strong historical links to the railway are being encouraged to make the case for why they should be the new home of GBR.

The GBR Transition Team will then shortlist the best applications in May, after which a public vote will help determine the winning location.

Cheshire East councillors have already backed a motion for the borough council to press Crewe's case to the government for the GBR HQ.

A number of new regional headquarters will also be created across the country.

The creation of GBR was announced as a major pillar of reforms launched by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.

Mr Shapps said: "Our railways have kept this country moving for almost two hundred years, but it's time to kickstart a new age that will shape our network for the next two hundred.

"I'm calling on people across the country to make the case for why the true home of the railways is on your doorstep."

Applications in the will be measured against six criteria:

• Alignment to Levelling Up objectives
• Places that are connected and easy to get to
• Opportunities for Great British Railways
• Railway heritage and links to the network
• Value for money
• Public support

The central headquarters will be the heart of the rail network and provide strategic direction for the running of Great British Railways. Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan welcomed the launch of the competition and has called on residents and businesses to get behind the town. "Crewe's strong, historical links to our nation's railways make it an ideal location for the new Great British Railways headquarters, which is why I have been championing us from the day this was announced," said the MP. "It is great to see the competition launch and I know there is a real excitement locally at the prospect. "This HQ would bring new highly skilled jobs to the area, level up and create opportunities for residents, and cement Crewe's status as the true home of British rail. "I urge local residents, leaders, and business groups to get behind our bid." The MP and rail enthusiast music producer Pete Waterman made the case for Crewe during a recent visit to the town by Rail Minister Wendy Morton. Mr Waterman said: "Crewe is the place, it has to be. We have such a rich history, we have HS2 on the way, we are so well connected. I'll be backing the bid in any way I can." Cheshire East Council leader Cllr Sam Corcoran said: "Rail is in the blood of so many people in Crewe and bringing the Great British Railways headquarters to the town will create huge opportunities for levelling up and creating skilled jobs that will build on the town's proud rail heritage." Leader of the Great British Railways Transition Team Andrew Haines explained: "This is the chance for cities and towns across the UK to pitch to be a key part of an exciting chapter in the history of Britain's railway." Local authorities, MPs and business groups are being encouraged to drive forward campaigns for why their community should be the #DestinationGBR by visiting www.gbrtt.co.uk/hq The announcement follows the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper which sets out the government's plan to transform the UK with twelve national levelling up missions, which it is said will shift government focus and resources to Britain's "forgotten communities" throughout the 2020s.