Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the North East Combined Authority has in relation to the Northern Rail franchise.

Andrew Jones

When known as Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) (trading as NEXUS), the North East Combined Authority were one of five PTEs who are co-signatories of the current Northern Interim Franchise Agreement that commenced in 2014.

The North East Combined Authority is one of the 29 authorities that make up Rail North Ltd. As part of the new franchise competition ‎they were involved in helping develop the Invitation To Tender for the next Northern Franchise, which is expected to begin in April 2016.

Going forward the Secretary of State will sign the franchise agreement, but the management of the next Northern Franchise is being devolved to the Department for Transport and Rail North partnership.