James MacColl, Head of Campaigns, Campaign for Better Transport, said:

"If we're to re-balance the economy, it's clear England's cities need the same powers as London to plan and undertake major improvements to their transport networks. They also need the right resources, and one of the most pressing priorities is the north of England's rail network, which has been starved of investment for far too long. It's vital that central Government, city authorities and transport operators work together to deliver desperately needed improvements to rail services and infrastructure."

Ends

For more information contact Chloë Darlington on 020 7566 6483 / 07984 773 468 or chloe.darlington@bettertransport.org.uk [1]. 

Notes:

Campaign for Better Transport is the UK's leading authority on sustainable transport. We champion transport solutions that improve people's lives and reduce environmental damage. Our campaigns push innovative, practical policies at local and national levels. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).

2. Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester launched the report Investing in City Regions: the case for long-term investment in transport at 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 November 2014.

3. Campaign for Better Transport will launch Rail in the North: Stepping stones to a rebalanced Britain [2] at the National Rail Museum in York tomorrow, Wednesday 19 November. The report calls for a series of steps to be taken by the Department for Transport, Rail North and the winners of the next Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises between 2016 and 2020 to ensure that the vision for a strengthened economy in the north of England is realised. More information on the event is online [3]. 

4. In the paper Making Transport Local [4], Campaign for Better Transport called for devolution of transport powers in order to give England's cities and regions integrated, sustainable transport networks.