Member Article

Tees Valley allocated £4.5m to develop transport links

The Tees Valley has been allocated £4.5 million through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which will enable the delivery of improvements across the rail network in the area.

Improvements will be made at 11 existing stations including Allens West,Billingham, Gypsy Lane, Longbeck, Marske, Marton, Nunthorpe, Redcar Central, Redcar East, South Bank
and Stockton.

Work will also include a new station at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, which is due for completion in 2014.

Tees Valley Unlimited managing director, Stephen Catchpole said; “This is excellent news for Tees Valley - £4.5 million funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund helps facilitate the major and long standing aspiration of a railway station at James Cook University Hospital and also enables considerable development across 11 Tees Valley stations already in use – all essential in this first phase of the Tees Valley Metro Scheme.

The funds build on investment secured to realise the Tees Valley Metro Phase 1.

Mr Catchpole continued: “The programme of work complements ongoing and recent developments such as those at Hartlepool, Saltburn and Eaglescliffe stations and levers in significant private sector funding and support from Network Rail and Northern Rail and positive engagement with the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust.

“It will help us realise one of our priority transport ambitions to improve passenger facilities, enhance our existing rail network and support the economic regeneration of the area by increasing the mobility of workers and the accessibility of key sites.

“As part of the Transport and Infrastructure Group incorporating all five Tees Valley local authorities, we look forward to bringing the plans to fruition.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .