THE Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has called on the Government to give the region the same transport powers as London to help solve transport issues.

Unless the region is given similar day-to-day powers it will be unable to tackle its “outdated, fragmented and unaccountable” transport system and clean up air pollution, Mr Burnham has said.

He is also urging the Government to send an ultimatum to train operators to step up.

A new Take Back Control of our Transport Campaign has now been launched and Mr Burnham is urging people to sign up.

He said: “Greater Manchester is a growing city-region on the world stage but our transport network and infrastructure is holding us back. We lack basic powers over the day to day running of our transport system. I fully understand the frustration people feel at the delays and disruption we are currently experiencing. I feel it too, because I simply do not have enough powers at my disposal to get a grip on things.

“That is why I am launching a public campaign calling on the Government to give us the powers to let us create the transport network we need."

To sign up visit www.takecontrolofourtransport.co.uk