Transport for the North (TfN) has welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP’s, positive response to its proposal to become England’s first sub-national transport body.
In his formal response, the Secretary of State commented favourably about the proposal and the organisation’s plans to transform the North’s transport infrastructure.
As part of the proposal, TfN had to demonstrate that, in becoming a statutory body, the new arrangements will deliver better outcomes for passengers and transport users across the North.
The organisation will now work through the final stages of becoming a sub-national transport body, with formal statutory status expected to be granted before the end of 2017.
John Cridland, Chairman of Transport for the North, commented: “We are pleased that the Secretary of State has given his support to us becoming England’s first sub-national transport body.
“There is a clear desire from across the country to see the North get the kind of infrastructure needed to deliver transformational economic growth that would improve the lives of all who live and work in the region.
“We will work closely with our partners over the coming months and are looking to become a statutory body by the end of this year.”
Chris Grayling MP said: “This is another important step forward for TfN and will help the region to speak with one voice on its transport priorities.
“The Government is committed to working together with our public and private sector partners in the North to embrace the ongoing opportunities to deliver the Northern Powerhouse.”
David Brown, CEO of TfN, said: “Until now we have largely been working behind the scenes, gathering evidence and working with our partners to identify what needs to be done to create a plan for the North capable of delivering transformational change.”
