The new head of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) has said Manchester could soon be the rail hub of the north.

Trafford councillor Matthew Colledge was speaking after being appointed chairman at the GMPTA annual general meeting.

He promised to secure the best public transport services possible not only for the people of Greater Manchester, but also for the sake of the economy.

"Work is about to begin on a major expansion of the Metrolink system, we have the reforms of the local transport bill and the possibility of Manchester becoming a rail hub for the north," he stated.

Councillor Colledge takes over from Roger Jones, who for the last seven years led the GMPTA and was a leading advocate of the congestion charge and the Transport Innovation Fund bid.

Last month, the government said it would invest £3 billion in Greater Manchester's public transport system in return for a congestion charge, which could be in force by 2013.