http://www.atkinsglobal.co.uk/enGB/angles/opinion/firststepstowardsanorthernpowerhouse First steps towards a Northern Powerhouse The North of England is made up of more than 70 shire district, metropolitan district and unitary authorities. Despite being geographic neighbours they have strong individual identities, there are many deeprooted local rivalries and they all have their own locallyelected representatives. A successful Northern Powerhouse will rely on all of these authorities to work together as one, which given the preceding points might appear a tall order. However, I believe that Rail North provides proof that the northern authorities can work together to achieve a common goal. Rail North is made up of the 29 City Region Combined Authorities and Local Transport Authorities covering the entire north of England. It paves the way for the Northern Powerhouse, transforming franchised rail services to meet the needs of the northern economy. This means more trains. It means longer trains, it means passengers benefiting from at least the same level of quality as those in other parts of the country. Rail North also provides an excellent model of collaborative working across Local Authorities and with DfT that other regions seeking devolution of transport services could certainly learn a great deal from. Once the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises start operations in April 2016, they will be managed by a formal partnership of Rail North and Department for Transport, the first of its kind. The Rail North/DfT Partnership is a stage in the transition from Central Government control of rail services to devolving their management and funding to the North of England. In my view, one of Rail North and DfT’s most important achievements is to ensure the phasing out of the ageing fleet of low capacity, poor quality, bus bodied Pacers by 2020, which like the old ‘slam door’trains we used to see on network around London until the early millennium, should have no part to play on a modern railway. Passengers want rolling stock of sufficient quality, capacity, reliability and