Mayor lays tracks for North East rail vision

Plans for greater local control over rail services have been set out as part of a long-term vision to improve connections, fares and stations across the North East.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness has outlined proposals to give the region a greater say over its rail network, with ambitions spanning new routes, more frequent services, improved stations and integrated ticketing.

The North East Rail Vision sets out a roadmap to 2040 and is due to be considered by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority Cabinet.

Central to the plans is bringing local rail into the proposed Angel Network alongside bus and Metro services, with simpler ticketing and the expansion of the Mayor’s Fares to local trains.

The vision also includes delivering the Metro extension to Washington with three new stations and progressing the Leamside Line, which is intended to bring Northern Powerhouse Rail services into the region and release capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

The Government has previously backed development work on the Leamside Line alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Other ambitions include extending the Northumberland Line to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, introducing modern electric and battery-powered trains and increasing the number of stations served every 30 minutes.

Plans also cover earlier and later services into city centres, additional seats on the Northumberland Line and measures to improve safety and accessibility.

Station improvements are proposed for Sunderland, Newcastle Central and Metrocentre, while a new signalling system is planned to improve reliability across the Metro network.

Mayor McGuinness said: “Devolution is our chance to finally transform how the rail system is run and to make it far more affordable for local people.

“I have been clear I want to see more powers given to regions so the needs of local people are at the heart of every decision – that's how it should be, and that’s what I'm fighting for.

“Devolution of rail powers such as more control over our local stations will allow us to take quicker action to improve stations and trains, delivering improvements everyone can see when they travel.

“We know now is the time to act – with the Prime Minister championing further devolution for our regions and the formation of the new rail body Great British Railways.

“We need to be at the forefront of this, setting out what we want for rail – reversing decades of under investment and failures to deliver the transformation that people expect to see.

“I know what’s needed and it is a big task, people tell me too often that things will ‘never happen’ when it comes to our rail plans but I'll prove them wrong – I will deliver change for the people of the North East.”

The vision builds on wider efforts to secure greater devolved rail powers, including more local influence over services, stations, ticketing and timetables.

Alongside the strategy, the mayor has signed an agreement with the rail industry aimed at strengthening collaboration between the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and industry partners to help deliver improvements for passengers.

Mayor McGuinness added: “Getting a train should be affordable, accessible and safe, with a good choice of routes, frequent services and simple fares.

“Smart, integrated tickets should make travel easy and guarantee you get the cheapest price available – other parts of the country have this already so it’s time the North East does too – our Rail Vision is just the start.”

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