AS pressure grows for more devolution of powers from central to regional and local government, 14 local councils – metropolitan, shire and unitary authorities – have launched a bid to take over responsibility for overseeing rail services throughout the West Midlands once the existing London Midland franchise ends in 2017.

Meeting in Stafford, the 14 councils (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Northamptonshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire) agreed to create a consortium titled West Midlands Rail.

Chairman of WMR is Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and already chairman of West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, which embraces the metropolitan areas within the new consortium.

Cllr Lawrence explained: “This proposition is a major step towards securing local management and ultimately delivering better rail services focussed on the real needs of West Midlands passengers.

“The local rail network has a key role to play in supporting the region's economy and holding more responsibility here in the West Midlands will help make sure that new investment is best targeted to create growth and jobs.

“It would also help ensure the local rail network fully connects and feeds into the forthcoming high speed rail line, thereby maximising the significant economic benefits offered by HS2.”

The consortium said that transferring more responsibility for the London Midand franchise from the Department for Transport would enable the West Midlands to use local knowledge to lay down minimum standards of service, including punctuality and reliability and have the power to hold the train operator to account.

The councils said devolution could also provide an opportunity to set fares locally, offering fairer pricing for passengers, while locally managed stations could mean improved passenger information, better security and staffing and upgraded facilities such as more cycle parking.

The move could also mean more frequent trains and better integration with bus and tram services while easing the way for a network wide ‘smartcard’ that can be used on all modes of public transport.

The WMR group added that only two areas of the UK presently have locally-managed rail networks – Merseyside and London. Both have been highly successful in terms of passenger satisfaction, passenger growth and punctuality, added WMR.