TyneTees Express
The Tyne Tees Express is a proposed hourly rail service operating between Newcastle in Tyneside and Middlesbrough in Teesside located in North East England.
The service was proposed as the conurbations and main towns within the Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear are the economic powerhouses of the North East of England however, have poor inter-urban transport links.
According to the report produced by AECOM Faber Maunsell on behalf of Nexus into the re-opening of the Leamside Line, a Tyne Tees half-hourly commuter service would have a passenger patronage level of over 700,000 per annum with 90,000 of those utilising Park and Ride facilities at Washington and Durham (Belmont). This results in a passenger demand great enough to produce a farebox revenue of over £2,000,000 per year assuming the maximum single fare is capped at £11.50.
Route
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.
Other route option
Although the Leamside Line and Stillington Route is suggested as the best route, The Tyne Tees Connectivity Study report states that it is unlikely in the near future the Leamside Line will be upgraded and re-opened by Network Rail. Because of this, the study suggests that currently, the most beneficial route for the Tyne Tees Express service utilises the East Coast Main Line between Newcastle and Darlington, and continuing to Middlesbrough via the Tees Valley Line.
This option would provide calling points at: