This article has appeared today.
I thought this was "old news" however the MEN
is not renowed for being up to the minute on it's scoops.
Any thoughts would be welcome
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/run-trains-well-save-20m-5851454
I thought this was "old news" however the MEN
is not renowed for being up to the minute on it's scoops.
Any thoughts would be welcome
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/run-trains-well-save-20m-5851454
Jennifer Williams in Manchester Evening News said:Town halls come together to bid to run train services – and save £20m
Councillors in Greater Manchester have joined other northern councils in drawing up a plan to convince ministers to let them take charge of train franchising
Town halls have outlined plans for better value, more reliable railways in a bid to snatch control over them from Whitehall.
Councillors in Greater Manchester have joined other northern councils in drawing up a plan to convince ministers to let them take charge of train franchising.
Their proposals will save at least £20m a year, they claim – while creating better services and more transparency over how fares are spent.
More than 30 local authorities in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Merseyside and the North East have come together to create an outline business case.
Their plan would see a committee of councillors – instead of the Department for Transport – appoint and oversee train operators.
It would see the Transpennine and Northern Rail franchises merged and run by one firm when their contracts end in 2016, saving £20m a year. A report by Manchester council boss Sir Howard Bernstein on the draft case – due to go before the town hall’s executive next week – says ministers have been ‘supportive of the principal’ of handing over franchising power.