CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Government to surrender power over Yorkshire's railways to a regional authority.
The Campaign for the English Regions (CFER) is hoping transport secretary Alistair Darling's announcement that a review of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will take place could result in rail links being run locally.
CFER, which campaigns for the establishment of elected regional governments in England, want to see Regional Transport Authorities set up across the UK.
The authorities would be responsible for regional rail services and transport planning on roads.
CFER's national campaign officer Don Price believes its proposals would help rail links around Yorkshire and other regions recover after years of neglect.
He said: "Regional railway services have suffered badly under the SRA.
"Despite the commitment of the Government in their ten-year transport plan to increase passenger numbers by 50%, we saw significant cutbacks in regional services in 2003.
"We are saying to Alistair Darling that decision making must be shifted out of London."
He said it should go to those who have the real interests of the regions at heart - the people working and living in those regions.
Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford said she supported the review of the railways announced by the Government.
She said: "I would urge them to simplify the structure and make delivery and safety the key aims of the service rather than the profitability of the railways.
"Privatisation was clearly a disaster.
"There were too many companies, too much fracture and too much emphasis on profit and not enough concern about the service to the public."
