Rail North enters partnership with DfT on rail devolution

RAIL North has agreed to enter into a partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT) for the renewal of the Northern and TransPennine rail franchises.

The process for replacing these two franchises will begin next year and successors will be in place in February 2016.

Over the past year North of England authorities have worked together to develop proposals for local decision-making to play a central role in defining future rail services in the North.

The Rail North proposals include a long term rail strategy for the North, a strong business case, and a new decision-making framework for northern authorities to work together.

The DfT – Rail North Partnership aims to ensure that new infrastructure, such as the Northern Hub, is used in the most effective way to strengthen the economy, and that priorities are clearly defined for future investment in the network and rolling stock.

The partnership will also build on the work Rail North set out in the long term rail strategy, which was publicly consulted on over the summer and has gained support from businesses, passenger groups and industry stakeholders.

“I’m delighted that the Secretary of State has seen the value of the work the North of England authorities have undertaken over the past 18 months”, said Sir Richard Leese, vice chairman of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, on behalf of the Rail North leaders group.

“We believe that a devolved railway will focus more on the places of the North, their prosperity and passengers. The railway has a key role to play in a more robust North of England economy, and sustainable economic growth must be supported by improved connectivity across the North.”

Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “The joint working between the north of England authorities builds on the priorities and approach taken in making the case for the Northern Hub and the north of England rail electrification infrastructure projects. It is right that the North should now play a key role in making the decisions about the future train services that will benefit from both these, and future, rail investment in the North.”

“The DfT – Rail North Partnership will focus on growing the railway to maximise the benefits of investment, and having a basis for determining investment priorities in future, while at the same time providing passengers with better services and delivering a more efficient railway”, said chairman of West Yorkshire Metro, Coun James Lewis. “Additional rolling stock will be vital if we are to support an economy where more and more people travel by train to work, for business, and for shopping and leisure activities.”

A joint Rail North/ DfT working group will develop the detail of the partnership proposals for presentation to the Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin, and North of England local authority leaders early in the new year.