PM challenges North

COVER STORY Boris Johnson wants local authorities to have greater control over fares, service patterns and rolling stock.

RAILWAYS in the North could be run by those using them, under plans unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The PM intends for local authorities to have greater control over fares, service patterns, rolling stock and stations on local lines in metropolitan areas.

“Today I am announcing my intention to give the railways of the North back to the people of the North. Back to the places where they were born. Back to Stockton and to Darlington. Back to Liverpool and Manchester,” he said during a speech at the Convention of the North event in Rotherham on September 13.

However, he warned that with greater control comes greater responsibility: “As well as taking power, you will have to take responsibility. That means alongside taking the credit, you will be taking the heat.”

Johnson added: “If there is one field of policy that can change people’s lives for the better and level up opportunity - one field of policy that in my view must now be devolved - that policy is transport.

“Nearly 200 years ago, this country invented a machine that went on to unite great surfaces, great areas of Great Britain, spread its iron web across the Earth, and transformed everywhere it touched.

“The north of England gave the world the railway. And yet, two centuries later, in this birthplace of the railways, we can do so much better.”

Johnson also promised that Pacers would be gone from the North “within months”.

On the same day, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram called once again for the Northern franchise, run by Arriva, to be terminated (see separate story).

Transport for the North Chief Executive Barry White said any change must be led by the North: “We have long called for the performance and future of our railways to be in the hands of the people closest to passengers in the North. Collectively, they know the issues facing rail users, can better hold operators to account, and can enact ways to make things better. The leaders have shown that, as part of our Board, they can unite and lead transport policy.

“Commitments to more devolution should be warmly embraced. We’ve made the case to the Williams Review that both the city regions and the North should have greater command of their rail networks as part of a progressive pathway to devolution. The devil will be in the detail of how decision-making, funding and the structure of the rail industry can put passengers first.”

In his speech, Johnson said: “Outside the combined authority areas, I want communities to take control, too.

“That might be through county councils taking on similar roles, in their areas, for stations or branch lines. Or it might be by transferring local branch line and rural services to community rail partnerships, owned by local people.

“And as you have asked, we will give you far greater control over your budgets.”

However, Johnson explained that Government will be “generous on capital spending, but we won’t be able to afford everything that everyone wants”.

He warned that choices would have to be made: “If people want more than we can afford, then they will have to raise the money themselves.”

Johnson claims that many of the

“We will give you far greater control over your budgets.” Boris Johnson, Prime Minister