City
Mayors


have
made
a
new
bid
to
make
sure
that
they
have
a
‘central
role’
in
running
railway
services
in
their
areas,
as
the
Rail
Reform
Bill
takes
shape.

One
of
several
uncertainties
about
the
detail
of
railway
reform
is
how
Mayors
in
the
city
regions
and
other
combined
authorities
will
work
effectively
with
the
national
‘directing
mind’
Great
British
Railways.

The
Urban
Transport
Group
has
published
a
new
report,
‘Harnessing
the
opportunity
of
our
local
railways’,
which
makes
the
case
for
integration.
This
will
include
decisions
about
local
rail
being
made
at
a
local
level
without
departing
from
national
policy.

Greater
Manchester
has
voiced
ambitions
to
include
local
railways
in
its
integrated
Bee
Network,
as
Transport
for
London
already
does.
TfL
has
been
operating
various
suburban
lines
under
the
badge
Overground
since
2007.

But
the
creation
of
London
Overground
by
former
mayor
Ken
Livingstone
required
the
agreement
of
the
Department
for
Transport,
which
had
just
taken
over
responsibility
for
National
Rail
franchises.

The
Government
has
launched
a
consultation
on
rail
reform,
ahead
of
the
planned
Rail
Reform
Bill.

The
report
includes
a
series
of
recommendations
which
include
a
duty
for
GBR
to
work
with
devolved
authorities
to
ensure
that
any
plans
reflect
local
ambitions
for
growth
and
for
rail.

It
also
discusses
timetabling,
fares
and
ticketing,
and
stations.

Urban
Transport
Group
director
Jason
Prince
said:
‘We
have
a
once-in-a-generation
opportunity
to
reimagine
our
railways
and
harness
the
potential
for
rail
to
become
part
of
devolved
and
fully
integrated
local
transport
networks.

‘As
a
minimum,
rail
reform
should
ensure
that
there
is
a
clear
duty
on
central
government
to
devolve
powers
and
funding
on
local
rail
to
devolved
leaders
and
authorities,
where
this
would
bring
enhanced
outcomes
for
communities
and
taxpayers.

‘If
our
railways
are
to
contribute
to
the
Government’s
Plan
for
Change
and
help
to
grow
local
economies,
it
is
devolved
leaders
who
are
best
placed
to
ensure
passengers
and
businesses
are
front
and
centre
of
plans
for
local
rail
services.’

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you
have
a
comment
on
this
story?
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