Regional authority boss takes rail reform job

Laura Shoaf will help overhaul the current railway system, the Department for Transport said

The woman in charge of the West Midlands' regional authority has been appointed to lead the new body overseeing rail services.

Laura Shoaf, currently chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will chair the board setting up Great British Railways.

She was previously in charge of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the combined authority.

Ms Shoaf will chair the body known as Shadow Great British Rail, which is waiting for legislation to formally set up the new body that will oversee rail services and infrastructure.

The body aims to bring railways into public ownership and make train services more reliable, affordable and safer.

The Transport Secretary appointed Ms Shoaf as chair of the body, who said she would build the transport network "around passengers".

Great British Railways also plans to reform the ticketing system and make it simpler for passengers to travel.

The Department for Transport said improvements for passengers and freight users would be delivered straight away.

"My focus will be ensuring people are at the heart of the railways and to ensure this remains a focus for years to come," Ms Shoaf said.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stated that they would change the "fragmented rail system" that passengers had "suffered from".