Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the devolution of power for the Liverpool City Region to run the Merseyrail network in the public sector.

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail commits Great British Railways to agreeing partnerships with local government in England, to give local leaders a greater say in how transport services are delivered in their area.

The devolved Merseyrail arrangements with the private sector operator contracted to Liverpool City Region Combined authority have delivered a high performing railway for many years. We are working with the Combined Authority to explore a range of options for increased local influence over the Merseyrail network, to build on this and further improve outcomes for passengers and the local economy. We will provide a further update in due course.