Responding to the publication today of Sir Roy McNulty’s review of the rail industry, Metro Chairman Cllr Chris Greaves said,

“Metro’s plans to improve our extremely popular local rail network with developments such as new stations have long been frustrated by the disproportionately high cost of any such project under the current Network Rail arrangements, and I am glad to see that Sir Roy has addressed this in his report.

“Local rail networks such as West Yorkshire’s make an enormous contribution to the economy of northern cities so I am also pleased that he has highlighted the need to look at the way the rail industry outside London and the south east is structured and financed.

Reliable and affordable

“In our area there has been a fundamental market failure with a huge growth in passenger numbers but very little additional capacity. We need to see the right balance between needing to run our railways as successful businesses but also providing a reliable and affordable service to the people who rely on them.

“Metro is keen to work with the Department for Transport and the rail industry to find out how we, along with the other northern Passenger Transport Executives, can improve the current franchise process to achieve greater efficiencies and economies of scale.

“This ‘northern’ approach would enable us to plan and deliver joined-up networks and services that actually meet passenger needs rather than carry on having to ‘make do’."