Issue - meetings

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorse the principle of a new relationship with Northern based on openness, honesty and working in partnership, which recognises elected members’ role as passenger champion, and which secures delivery of strategic objectives for clean and inclusive growth, recognising the important role for rail in West Yorkshire in achieving these.

(ii)             That the Committee note the issues facing Northern as OLR takes over the operation from Arriva.

(iii)           That the Committee approve the principle that Combined Authority officers should work with Northern, TfN and others to identify potential interventions for the short-to-medium term period after the industry emerges from COVID 19 restrictions but while OLR continues.  These interventions should be directed towards the key principles of:

·       Improving reliability and punctuality

·       Providing train capacity where it is most needed

·       Improving staff morale and the image of the rail operator

·       Making small-scale but noticeable improvements to the passenger experience at trains and on stations, including better information

·       Setting the agenda for the longer-term investment that rail in our region requires

The broad types of intervention, to address the issues identified above and summarised below and form the basis of further discussion for Combined Authority officers with Northern and TfN, include:

Members considered a report which provided an update on the transition of the Northern operation from the Arriva Trains North franchise to the Operator of Last Resort.

Members discussed the opportunity to establish new working relations with the operator and discussed the accountability and democracy of the Rail North Committee. Members asked for more reporting from the rail north committee.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorse the principle of a new relationship with Northern based on openness, honesty and working in partnership, which recognises elected members’ role as passenger champion, and which secures delivery of strategic objectives for clean and inclusive growth, recognising the important role for rail in West Yorkshire in achieving these.

(ii)             That the Committee note the issues facing Northern as OLR takes over the operation from Arriva.

(iii)           That the Committee approve the principle that Combined Authority officers should work with Northern, TfN and others to identify potential interventions for the short-to-medium term period after the industry emerges from COVID 19 restrictions but while OLR continues.  These interventions should be directed towards the key principles of:

·       Improving reliability and punctuality

·       Providing train capacity where it is most needed

·       Improving staff morale and the image of the rail operator

·       Making small-scale but noticeable improvements to the passenger experience at trains and on stations, including better information

·       Setting the agenda for the longer-term investment that rail in our region requires

The broad types of intervention, to address the issues identified above and summarised below and form the basis of further discussion for Combined Authority officers with Northern and TfN, include: