A £4.2 billion devolution deal for the North East of England could be the key to reopening the disused Leamside line, the region’s transport leaders told the UK Light Rail Conference on July 11-12.
Voters from County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear will go to the polls in May 2024 to elect a mayor and cabinet who will lead the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority.
Transport North East Managing Director Tobyn Hughes told the conference that public transport was a key driving force behind a long-held ambition for the region.
“Transport is hugely important to this region’s identity, to have it flourish and to have it unlock its economic potential,” he said.
Hughes explained how the region’s transport powers will be transferred into that new combined authority, and that Nexus (current operator of the Tyne & Wear Metro) will continue to exist.
Read this article in full in RAIL issue 989 here
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Ray Turnbull - 15/08/2023 18:38
Like everything else, its politics verses sound economics. We didnt need a mayor to tell us, guide us, advise us of how vital the reopening of the Leamside line is, for the benefit of the region. The cost of HS2 and many other white elephants concocted by both Labour and the Conservatives over the decades could have funded the North easts infrastructure needs, many times over. To readdress these political deficiencies theres got to be a political revolultion, from top to bottom and make political servants fully accountable.
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