Lord McLoughlin steps down as Transport for the North chair

Former transport secretary, Lord McLoughlin, is standing down as chair of Transport for the North (TfN) this autumn, after four years in post at the statutory sub-national transport body.

His last chairing event will be the TfN Board meeting in Darlington on Monday 15 September.

As chair, Lord McLoughlin worked with the North’s political leaders to agree its second Strategic Transport Plan and also led the board as it opposed plans to close rail station ticket offices at stations, a proposal ultimately dropped by the Government.

Martin Tugwell, chief executive of TfN, said: 'I know political leaders and partners from across the North will join me in thanking Lord McLoughlin for his service to the Board. His insight and experience, including as a former Transport Secretary, has helped guide our Board and the TfN team over the last few years in working together to secure investment in the North’s transport system.'

The Board meeting in Darlington in September will mark the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger rail services, when the railway age began in 1825 with the inception of the Stockton to Darlington railway.

Mayors and council leaders will gather from across the North to discuss regional growth, Spending Review outcomes, freight priorities, and the latest from the Rail North Committee.

Arrangements for Lord McLoughlin’s successor will be announced in the coming weeks.