Bosses on the regional transport body Centro-PTA are calling on the Department for Transport to retain their status as co-signatory for the new West Midlands rail franchise so they can continue to deliver improvements on the network.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander, acting director general of Centro-PTA Trevor Robinson outlined the reasons why Centro-PTA should remain a co-signatory on the franchise, due to begin in November 2007.

These include building on the sustained growth and service improvements that the organisation has helped to deliver as a co-signatory over the past ten years.

“Centro-PTA has over 30 years' in-depth experience of specifying, procuring and managing rail services in the West Midlands in partnership with many Government agencies,” explains Mr Robinson.

“If we are to continue to build on our track record of successfully managing stakeholder aspirations, and helping to deliver growth and improvements to the region’s rail network, it is vital that Centro-PTA has close involvement in the new West Midlands franchise.  The best way to achieve this is through co-signatory status.”

Centro-PTA lost its automatic right to be a co-signatory to the West Midlands franchise under the 2005 Railways Act.  However, the Act gives public transport executives (PTEs) like Centro powers to enter into agreements with the Secretary of State in relation to passenger rail services and be co-signatories to franchise agreements.

In addition to the letter to the Secretary of State, Centro-PTA chairman Cllr Gary Clarke appealed for the support of local MPs, councillors and other key stakeholders.

He said: “Through its current co-signatory relationship with Central Trains, Centro-PTA havs delivered many crucial benefits, including increased frequency on many routes, more rolling stock, upgrades and expansion to station car parks, and enhancements to stations and trains.

“If Centro-PTA is not a co-signatory to the new franchise its role would be marginalised and it would be much harder to deliver the further improvements needed.  It means that a cumbersome process of separate agreements is likely to lead to less rail investment occurring and both the Government’s and Centro-PTA’s objectives being harder to realise.  A full partnership is essential.”

There are also concerns that the loss of Centro-PTA’s co-signatory status is at odds with the wider regional devolution agenda.

“Taking away co-signatory status is inconsistent with the Government’s proposals to give PTEs greater powers in relation to regulating bus services,” continues Cllr Clarke.

“If the Government is serious about giving the city regions more powers to tackle key issues such as congestion, then the Department for Transport sharing the management of the West Midlands franchise with Centro-PTA as the key regional stakeholder responsible for public transport strategy in the West Midlands is surely a step in the right direction.”