A group of mayors including Andy Burnham have now initiated legal action against train operating companies over controversial plans to close railway station ticket offices.
The news was confirmed as a rail union claimed more than 100,000 people across the country have officially responded to the proposals.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced on July 5 the public would have just 21 days to have their say, with the plans involving the closure of almost all of the 1,007 remaining ticket offices in the country, including around 50 in Greater Manchester.
But collectively, the northern mayors claimed the period of public consultation is 'potentially illegal' and called for it to be declared 'null and void'. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Pre-action protocol letters have now been sent to TransPennine Express, Northern Trains Ltd, LNER, EMR, Thameslink, Greater Anglia and Avanti West Coast.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk