This article needs to be updated.(August 2013) |
Tees Valley Metro | |
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Overview | |
Status | Project cancelled by Government in 2010. |
Locale | Teesside and the rest of Dale of the Tees, England |
Service | |
Type | Metro, Commuter Rail |
Services | Line 1 (Darlington via Middlesbrough to Saltburn) Line 2 (Hartlepool to Nunthorpe Parkway) |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Tees Valley Metro was a project to upgrade the Tees Valley Line and sections of the Esk Valley Line and Durham Coast Line to provide a faster and more frequent service across the North of England. In the initial phases the services would have been heavy rail mostly along existing alignments. The later phase would have introduced tram-trains to allow street running. The project was backed by all the local authorities through which the system would have run, the authorities are: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees. Support was also forthcoming from the Department for Transport. The project has been cancelled due to lack of funding. Focus is now on Northern Rail franchise. Of the original "Tees Valley Metro" project, only the construction of a new station at James Cook University Hospital has come to fruition.
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The proposed initial routes would have used sections of the Tees Valley, Esk Valley and Durham Coast Lines. There were no current plans as to the interoperability of the continuing services and the new metro services. This would have been considered at the next stage of the process. [1] Several new stations will be built along the routes in two stages. After stage two additional routes using street running may be considered.
The project was planned to be delivered in two phases, with the first phase split into stages.
Initial work was proposed to be complete by December 2012 and would have included:
These improvements were estimated to cost £30 – 40 million. [2]
The second stage of Phase 1 was due to be completed in December 2014.
The cost of these improvements was estimated at £50 – 60 million. [2]
This phase included improvements to the Esk Valley Line between Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough, and on the Durham Coast Line between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool; new stations at Morton Palms, Middlehaven, The Ings and Nunthorpe Parkway were also proposed, and a further reduction in journey times between Darlington and Stockton.
This section's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information.(April 2011) |
The project had originally received approval from the Interim Regional Transport Board in September 2008, allowing more detailed plans and a public consultation to go ahead. Construction of the first phase was due to commence in 2010 [3] and would have been completed by the end of 2013. Phase one would cost around £80 million and Network Rail had already committed £40 million for signalling improvements. The second phase would cost a further £140 million and would have been in place by 2018.
On 23 July 2009 the project received in-principle funding from the Department for Transport via the Regional Funding Allocation process. Each of the individual components is being treated as an individual project, eligible for fast track funding. [4] Funding was expected for the two new platforms at Darlington, the reopening of platform 3 at Middlesbrough, the relocation of Teesside Airport station to within 350 m of the terminal building, improvements at Eaglescliffe, Thornaby and Hartlepool, including new lifts and footbridges, and the new station at James Cook University Hospital. [5] [6] Reports mentioned a possible new station between Middlesbrough and Redcar Central, proposed as a new station for Wilton International, [4] reopening Grangetown Station or improving and bringing South Bank station fully into use, [5] or relocating Redcar British Steel station [2] As well as the infrastructure improvements the improved rolling stock and increased frequency for trains will be introduced. [5]
This project has been officially shelved by central Government and Tees Valley Unlimited due to lack of and cut funding for the project by Government and lack of interest in the project from Network Rail.
Rail services provided by Northern Rail with some work to try and marginally improve journey times is now the plan going forward.
In 2014, a new railway station at the rear of James Cook University Hospital, was built and opened. [7]
In May 2014, Thornaby Railway Station's ticket office was refurbished and extended. The Government, whilst not ensuring, has requested that new franchise holder from 2016 onwards must attempt to refurbish or replace 35 year old Pacer trains currently in use.
Proposals remain the same for rail across the Tees Valley with the Tees Valley Mayor (Ben Houchen) continuing the promise dating back to as early as 2013 of trains twice an hour across the Tees Valley, as of 2021 this has still not happened. This change as its stated will not take place without further funding from Department for Transport and private sector contributions, notably neither currently have plans to do this. https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/transport
Pacer trains have been removed from the network and replaced with still ageing, slightly refurbished rolling stock from elsewhere.
The River Tees, in Northern England, rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines and flows eastwards for 85 miles (137 km) to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar near Middlesbrough. The modern day history of the river has been tied with the industries on Teesside in its lower reaches, where it has provided the means of import and export of goods to and from the North East England. The need for water further downstream also meant that reservoirs were built in the extreme upper reaches, such as Cow Green.
Middlesbrough is a large town in North Yorkshire, England. It is on the River Tees's southern bank, west of Redcar and east of Stockton-on-Tees. The Borough of Middlesbrough is governed from the town.
Teesside is a conurbation around the River Tees in the north of England, split between County Durham and North Yorkshire. The name was initially used as a county borough in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The Teesside area was historically an industrial powerhouse.
Thornaby-on-Tees, commonly referred to as Thornaby, is a town and civil parish on the River Tees's southern bank. It is in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. The parish had a population of 24,741 at the 2011 census, in the Teesside built-up area.
Eaglescliffe is a town in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England. The town is included under Yarm built-up area as opposed to nearby Teesside area.
Tees Valley is a combined authority area in the north of England around the River Tees. The combined authority was established in 2016, after public consultation in 2015. The area is not a geographical valley.
The Esk Valley Line is a railway line located in the north of England, covering a total distance of around 30 miles (48 km), running from Middlesbrough to Whitby. The line follows the course of the River Esk for much of its eastern half.
The Durham Coast Line is an approximately 39.5-mile (63.6 km) railway line running between Newcastle and Middlesbrough in North East England. Heavy rail passenger services, predominantly operated Northern Trains, and some freight services operate over the whole length of the line; it provides an important diversionary route at times when the East Coast Main Line is closed. Light rail services of the Tyne and Wear Metro's Green Line also operate over the same tracks between a junction just south of Sunderland station and Pelaw Junction.
Darlington railway station is on the East Coast Main Line in the United Kingdom, serving the town of Darlington, County Durham. It is 232 miles 50 chains (374.37 km) north of London King's Cross and on the main line it is situated between Northallerton to the south and Durham to the north. Its three-letter station code is DAR.
The Tees Valley Line is a railway line located in North East England, and follows part of the route of the original route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway of 1825.
Thornaby is a railway station on the Tees Valley Line, which runs between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn via Darlington. The station, situated 3 miles 17 chains (5 km) south-west of Middlesbrough, serves the market town of Thornaby-on-Tees, Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by TransPennine Express.
Middlesbrough is a railway station on the Durham Coast Line, Esk Valley Line and Tees Valley Line. The station serves the town of Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by TransPennine Express.
Marton is a railway station on the Esk Valley Line, which runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby via Nunthorpe. The station, situated 2 miles 79 chains (5 km) south-east of Middlesbrough, serves the suburbs of Marton, Middlesbrough and Ormesby, Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Teesside Airport is a railway station on the Tees Valley Line, which runs between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn via Darlington. The station, situated 5 miles 43 chains (9 km) east of Darlington, serves Teesside International Airport, Darlington in County Durham, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Allens West is a railway station on the Tees Valley Line, which runs between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn via Darlington. The station, situated 8 miles 9 chains (13 km) east of Darlington, serves the town of Eaglescliffe, Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
South Bank is a railway station on the Tees Valley Line, which runs between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn via Darlington. The station, situated 2 miles 40 chains (4 km) east of Middlesbrough, serves the town of South Bank, Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Tees Valley Regeneration was an urban regeneration company covering the Tees Valley area of North East England and at one time was the largest urban development agency in England. The headquarters were at Cavendish House, Teesdale Business Park in Thornaby-on-Tees.
James Cook is a railway station on the Esk Valley Line, which runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby via Nunthorpe. The station, situated 2 miles 24 chains (4 km) south-east of Middlesbrough, serves James Cook University Hospital and the suburbs of Berwick Hills and Park End, Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
Tees Marshalling Yard is a railway marshalling yard, used to separate railway wagons, located near Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, Northern England.
Roseberry Parkway railway station is a proposed railway station which would be between Nunthorpe and Great Ayton railway stations on the Esk Valley Line, in North Yorkshire, England. The station was proposed in August 2019 by a joint project between Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough Councils and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. The project is "aimed at easing road congestion and improving access to East Cleveland".
https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/STP-Main-Report-Design-Digital-pages.pdf