A former Transport Minister has been chosen to become the new chairman of the Transport for the North organisation.
Lord McLoughlin, who was an MP in Derbyshire from 1986 to 2019, served as Secretary of State for Transport from 2012 to 2016, as well as holding other Ministerial roles.
He joins Transport for the North to succeed John Cridland, the former CBI director-general who stepped down as chair last year.
His appointment comes with many of the political and business leaders that sit on Transport for the North still unhappy about the Government’s downgrading of rail plans for the region in its Integrated Rail Plan.
He said: “I feel very proud to have been selected as the chair of Transport for the North. I believe firmly in the potential of the North of England and know from my personal experience and professional career just how vital reliable, cost-effective and sustainable transport is to people and business.
“I have followed the work of TfN since the start – I was Transport Secretary when it was set up – and so I am delighted to be the new chair of this passionate, dedicated and visionary organisation. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead as part of Team TfN.
“A key focus for the TfN Board remains the need to press the case as to why its preferred approach to Northern Powerhouse Rail remains fundamental to securing the long-term economic future of the North. The Government’s Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) goes against the best interest of people in the North and fails to deliver the step-change in rail services that is the only sustainable, long-term solution.”
As well as approving Lord McLoughlin’s appointment, members of the TfN board have reiterated their opposition to the Integrated Rail Plan and still hope to get a better deal for the North.
