Surrey County Council has announced today that a new partnership aims to ‘transform the transport network’ for the public and businesses by top leaders from across the South East.

Transport for the South East (TfSE) intends to address issues and priorities of transport with a unified stance, and develop new strategies to focus the attention of ministers on critical needs in the region.

It will also influence where funds are invested in the South East’s transport network.

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said: “This is an important step towards our aim of improving travel for commuters and businesses in the region, whether that is by rail, road or air.

“Not only will working as one team in this way give us a bigger say on delivering better transport, [but] it will mean we can help to drive growth in the engine room of the nation’s economy.”

The new partnership also aims to bring together the area’s 16 transport authorities and five local enterprise partnerships in an effort to work with the Department for Transport.

Road and rail-builders Highways England and Network Rail, transport operators, transport users and other key interest groups will contribute.

TfSE is a sub-national transport body that intends to secure full government backing and statutory powers within the next two years, but will operate in shadow form for the time being.