‘Talking shop’ transport body hits back

A BODY tasked with advising on transport in the North has hit back at suggestions it is simply a “talking shop” and called for Government to give it more powers to shape the future of the region’s railways.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected this week to announce a £6bn fund for investment in northern railways, and the creation of a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council to speed up the delivery of major projects.

But Ministers are reportedly concerned that Transport for the North (TfN), which was set up in 2018, is a “talking shop” and had done little to bring forward rail upgrades.

However, TfN’s chief executive Barry White yesterday stressed the organisation had not been given adequate powers.

He said: “Let’s be clear, the Department

for Transport (DfT) already controls every aspect of rail upgrades in the North – funding decisions, business case processes and oversight of Network Rail.

“The Government has direct control of every element that sets the speed of delivery.”

He said northern leaders would be putting forward proposals for more transport powers and funding to be devolved.

Mr White said TfN had been calling for improvements since their first statutory advice in September 2018, where the body urged the Government to fast-track investment in the Transpennine route upgrade. And he said TfN lobbied the Government in the spring of last year to strip Northern of its franchise.

He added: “This unified approach also saw leaders submit the first business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail last year.”

Mr White said he “of course” welcomed investment in the North and “anything to speed it up”, but he added: ”Nevertheless, these proposals seem to be rather confused as to where the speeding up is needed.”

He stressed TfN was set up with “limited powers, mainly to provide advice to government”.

“And so yes, we do talk,” Mr White said. “But we do not have the powers or devolved budget to instruct work or take the decisive action that we all collectively need. It is a situation we hope will soon change.”

Mr White added: “The North’s leaders are clear – however the Department for Transport wants to organise itself – the progress they have made as ‘One Voice’ cannot be erased and the next clear step is more empowerment.

“They want the ability to make local decisions that put passengers first and run a railway that responds to local needs. Powers that also allow us to create an integrated and sustainable transport network for future generations.

“They’ll soon be setting out proposals of how that should work in practice, involving a devolved budget and decision-making to help level up and build back better.”

In the wake of The Sunday Times report at the weekend, the DfT said it had been clear that there must be investment in northern towns and cities to aid the economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

A DfT spokesman said the Government is “working closely” with northern leaders to determine how to ensure that “vital investment is delivered swiftly and effectively”.

The spokesman added that further details will be announced in “due course”.