Northern Rail Loses Franchise to Arriva

[for fawkes sake]

In January 2008, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority suggested that the best route for the Tyne Tees Express would be via the mothballed Leamside Line and currently freight only Stillington Line. The report also stated that the service would provide the most economic benefit to the regions by reducing the total journey time between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, rather than many calling points en route.

The ideal route for the Tyne Tees Express service has been suggested as:
Newcastle Central Station
East Gateshead (Park Lane)
Washington Parkway (Glover Road)
Washington (Station Road)
Penshaw (Coxgreen Road)
Fencehouses (level crossing)
Durham Parkway (Belmont)
Ferryhill
Stockton
Thornaby
Middlesbrough

Nexus stated Park and Ride stations at Washington and Durham would be desirable to relieve congestion on local roads, for example the A19 and A1(M) strengthening the case for the re-opening of the Leamside Line further.

If this thing runs true to form then it will be done in two stages. The web links make for interesting reading with a suggestion that the direct link between Newcastle and Middlesbrough will be run in addition to the link we now have between Middlesbrough
and Newcastle. However, Sunderland already has its Metro service so we are really only talking about passengers from Seaham (both directions) and those from Sunderland who need to get to Middlesbrough. Seaham will be discounted and the latter will be told that they can get the Metro to Newcastle to pick up the direct Middlesbrough link and probably still get to Middlesbrough in the same time.

So give it a year or two and we will be told about non-viability and the route from Middlesbrough to Newcastle via Hartlepool will be cancelled with people from Hartlepool and Seaham left stranded.

[Inspector Knacker]

The inconsequentiality of Transport within Hartlepool & The Tees Valley obviously hadn't dawned on Cwistopher  & his Clown Council,

I could never understand why  bus subsidies were withdrawn so quickly in comparison to other councils especially as those most affected are those who are likely to be Labour voters and most isolated by a withdrawl of bus services.
Bit of a puzzle that one.

[craig finton]

They could probably build a new rail bridge over the Tees for the annual cost of maintaining the totally obsolete Transporter Bridge

[Inspector Knacker]

They could probably build a new rail bridge over the Tees for the annual cost of maintaining the totally obsolete Transporter Bridge

Whoa,  you can't domthat, it's a, Teesside icon, it's a shrine, it's untouchable, it's also  a  joke well past its sell by date.

[mk1]

If  Teesside get a direct 'fast' service to Newcastle then  a rail bridge (for Tessside) is pointless. It would only benefit us so that means no one will be pushing for it.  Our clueless councillors do not need to worry as the get inflation busting mileage allowances.  Take away all theTeesside passengers who will no longer get the coast line train to Newcastle and a huge % of the profit on the line is gone. I expect after a decent interval  they will announce they will only run 1 train every 2 hours. I forsee a situation where they will default to  a Sunderland-Thornaby service that stops at every cow-shed on the line meaning even longer journey times for Hartlepool residents going to Newcastle and south as they wait for connections at Sunderland and Thornaby.

[fred c]

I don`t suppose a lack of rail services to the Boro will bother Cwistopher to much, he will use the council Limo to take him to cabinet meetings in Smogsville.

One thing is for sure, The Clown Council haven`t given much thought to this amalgamation malarkey.

[Inspector Knacker]

Our towns future appears to be as a peripheral glorified housing estate, our corner being held by political midgets with parish pump mindsets in a sea of political sharks. They'll be swallowed whole.