Today marked the first commute for thousands with the government operating the Northern Trains network, having stripped the franchise from owner Arriva.
The Department for Transport has taken over as operator of last resort, a model deployed on the East Coast Main Line in 2018.
Civic leaders from Manchester, Liverpool, Tees Valley and Yorkshire are joining a panel to advise on priorities.
Whitehall has pledged to work with council chiefs, industry and passenger representatives to deliver a plan for improvements after first 100 days.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This is new era for rail in the North, but there will be no quick fix for the network as we build solutions for the future.
“Today marks the beginning of rebuilding of trust in these services, and voices from the region will be essential as we work together to understand and deliver the improvements passengers need.
“Our aim is to give the North of England more powers over their railways, restoring the confidence of passengers and delivering a network they can truly rely on.”
Government announced it was taking back the franchise , which had been due to run until 2025, in late January. It began in 2016.
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The panel features Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake, and they will be joined by peers from across the service area, as well as passenger representatives and industry leaders on the panel, which will be led by Richard George, the chairman of the operator.
The Government has also announced that overcrowding on Northern’s network will be a focus for improvement, with new technology being trialled to identify crowding pinch points. Work is underway to extend platforms at 30 stations across the network to allow for longer trains and improve journeys for passengers.
Capacity will be further boosted with the roll-out of more electric trains across the network next year, in addition to the extra capacity already being delivered by the new fleet. A major deep cleaning programme has also started, along with an overhaul of on-board cleanliness, to make sure “carriages meet the high standards passengers deserve”.
Mr George said: “The panel will play a crucial strategic role as we look to transform services across Northern’s network, putting the needs of passengers first.
“By collaborating with local leaders, we’re taking a step towards reconnecting the railways with the people of the North. We need to improve performance and also provide passengers and their elected representatives with the confidence that their concerns are being addressed.”