Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of (a) Passenger Transport Executives and (b) Centro regarding rail devolution policy.

The Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) in the north of England are represented in discussions on this matter through the Rail North consortium of 30 local authorities. The Secretary of State and Rail North Leaders agreed the principles of an initial partnership for the procurement and management of the next Trans Pennine Express and Northern franchises at a meeting on 24 January. Officials – including a number from the PTEs - are working closely together on its implementation. Details of the partnership can be found at

http://www.railnorth.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Developing-the-Rail-North-Partnership.pdf.

The Department is in regular discussion with West Midlands Rail (WMR), a consortium of local authorities led by Centro, on their development of a proposition for devolution of local rail services in the West Midlands. The proposition is expected to be submitted to the Department by the end of July. WMR is meeting the Secretary of State early in July to discuss its proposals.