Transport for the North to get new transport spending powers

Government announces new legal powers that will give the North more say on how money is spent on transport

Legislation that will make Transport for the North (TfN) the first statutory sub-national transport body with its own legal powers and duties were laid in Parliament.

The move to put TfN on a statutory footing means that its recommendations must be formally considered by the government.

The Department for Transport (DfT) also confirmed the award of £18.5m from a £150m government fund for TfN’s smart ticketing programme. TfN will use this to introduce paperless, smartcard season tickets for Northern and TransPennine Express and Merseyrail passengers by the end of 2018.

The DfT said remaining funding is available for proposals to extend smart ticketing across public transport in the North, giving passengers more flexibility and a better integrated travel experience, including the ability to renew tickets online, fewer queues at stations and faster journeys through ticket barriers.

Transport minister Jesse Norman said: “We are committed to the Northern Powerhouse, and to giving the great towns and cities of the North more say over transport investment through their umbrella body TfN. This government is investing the most cash for a generation in transport projects for the North. “These new powers will give TfN far greater influence over national infrastructure decisions, as well the certainty they need to plan and drive forward projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and smart ticketing.”

Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry added: “We are investing a record £13 billion in transport in the North of England. As part of this, TfN will be a game-changer, with powers to speak with one voice on northern transport projects and drive forward ambitious plans to improve transport connections and unlock economic growth across the Northern Powerhouse.

The government is giving TfN powers to set the strategic direction for transport in the North through their statutory transport strategy. In addition TfN, should its members agree, is able to request additional powers for consideration by the Transport Secretary.

From April, TfN will get new powers to:

• produce a statutory transport strategy for the North that the government must formally consider when taking funding decisions
• fund organisations to deliver transport projects, for example, this could include transport operators delivering smart ticketing in the North
• work with local authorities to fund, promote and deliver road schemes - and be consulted on rail franchises in the North
• take forward smart ticketing to bring in faster, easier rail travel.

Rail North, an association of local authorities – including all the TfN members and Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent will also formally become part of TfN and work with government to co-manage the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises.

After being approved in Parliament, the legislation will be made into law by the end of the year or shortly afterwards depending on legislative time. TfN will become a statutory body on 1 April 2018.

TfN is a partnership of 19 local authorities, business leaders and 11 local enterprise partnership areas from across the North. It will help determine the top priorities for transport in the area and work with government to ensure these are taken into account in decisions made by the Transport Secretary.

The government has confirmed £150m is available to TfN for smart ticketing, £60m for Northern Powerhouse Rail and £50m to run TfN, a total of up to £260m.

John Cridland, independent chair of TfN said: “TfN gaining statutory status is an important step towards transforming the North of England and giving it the voice and powers it needs to move forward. To have the statutory instrument laid before Parliament is a tremendous achievement, having secured the support of 56 local authorities including all 19 of our constituent authorities. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to transform the region’s infrastructure and grow the UK economy.

“Becoming a sub-national transport body means that the Secretary of State of the day will take into account the North’s priorities when making transport infrastructure investment. These priorities will be developed collaboratively and we are currently working with our partners to finalise the draft strategic transport plan, which will be published for public consultation early next year.

“This is a 30-year transport strategy for the North that will help drive economic growth in the region and help to rebalance the UK economy - statutory status will ensure this plan is considered as a formal statutory document that can provide a solid, evidenced-based framework for transport investment in the North over the coming decades.”

Christian Spence, head of research and policy at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is an important step in establishing TfN as a body that is better able to communicate the specific needs of our communities in the North to central government. The work undertaken by TfN so far has identified the region’s strategic assets and is developing plans to ensure that they are better connected to serve the needs of business and individuals better over the coming decades. The additional funding that comes with this announcement to support the development of smart ticketing and its implementation across the three major northern rail franchises is a welcome move.

“The North has seen a significant lack of investment over the past decades in its critical infrastructure and, whilst we are now seeing progress with some electrification schemes nearing completion and the finishing of the Ordsall Chord, there remains much uncertainty over vitally needed upgrade works to trans-Pennine routes and the increased capacity needed at Manchester Oxford Road and Piccadilly.”