Metro Director General Kieran Preston responded today to the announcement by Transport Secretary Justine Greening that there would be a consultation on devolution of powers on rail services.

Mr Preston, who has led calls for the devolution of rail in the North, said, "We believe the future of the North's railways including the Northern and Trans-Pennine rail franchises are best placed in the hands of those who understand and are passionate about them and I am pleased to see the Secretary of State acknowledging this by announcing a consultation on devolution of powers today.

"With many years' experience of working with the Department for Transport and the transport industry, and collaborating across city, district, county and regional boundaries on rail issues, Metro and the other PTEs are certain that we can use that wealth of local knowledge to introduce measures that would add value to the North's rail network.

"We can respond to passengers' views and reflect local economies' needs while shaping local rail services and collaborating on region-wide developments, and are better placed to do so than London-based civil servants. And our aims, which would help ensure better integration between rail, bus, tram and trolleybus networks, are very much in line with those of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

"Metro is confident that with proper funding, devolution can maximise the benefits of growing the rail network and provide passengers with improved services while at the same time achieving Ministers' aims of providing the taxpayers and the Government with better value for money.

"We will be working closely and inclusively with our local authority partners across the North to develop a robust and comprehensive proposal in response to the consultation announced today."

Rail decentralisation: devolving decision-making on passenger rail services in England