Prior to this, public transport was run by individual local authorities and private companies, with little co-ordination.
The PTEs took over municipal bus operations from individual councils, and became responsible for managing local rail networks.
PTAs were recreated by the Local Government Act 1985 when the metropolitan county councils were abolished.
The PTE's were also stripped of their powers to regulate the fares and timetables of private bus operators.
There are currently six passenger transport executives in England, covering areas which correspond - though are not limited - to metropolitan counties.
PTEG's main tasks were facilitating the exchange of knowledge and good practice within the PTE network, and raising awareness nationally about the key transport challenges which face the city regions, and the public transport solutions which PTEs are implementing.
PTEG's strategy and policy was determined by the Directors General of the PTEs, who met every quarter.
It administered a number of specialist task groups which bring together professionals from across the pteg network to focus on specific policy areas and to share expertise and good practice.