The Transport Select Committee has acknowledged that the new statutory role for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) in the railway could risk being “too subject to goodwill” in the report of its inquiry into the Railways Bill.

The report, looking into the legislation and the new publicly owned body Great British Railways (GBR), broadly called for more detail about rail reform and for changes to the Bill.

The Urban Transport Group’s Director provided oral evidence to the Committee in December last year, stressing that the involvement of Mayors and MSAs in the railways will “let rail shine again”.

In the report’s chapter on devolution, the Committee recommended:

GBR should be required to enter into mayoral partnerships when requested to do so by an MSA whose request meets certain criteria in line with the Long Term Rail Strategy. MSAs should be statutory consultees on the Long Term Rail Strategy, and GBR should be required to give weight to - not simply have regard to - the Local Transport Plans of MSAs and Passenger Transport Executives.

It added:

We acknowledge that effective local control over rail services can best be exercised at the level of strategic authorities. It is essential that all parts of England should be able to engage effectively with GBR and, in particular, to hold it to account for its local or regional performance.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, who was quoted in the Committee’s report, said:

“The Committee is clear in its view that Mayoral Strategic Authorities are best placed to play a greater role in our local railways, yet the Railways Bill - in its current wording - does not accurately reflect this.

“The Bill is a once in a generation opportunity to reshape our rail system in a way which puts passengers first, and the involvement of local leaders in the running of local railways is vital to realise this opportunity. Together with our members, we will continue to work with central government, partners and the rail industry to ensure that rail reform truly delivers on its ambitions.”