The North East must push for “quick wins” if a multi-billion pound vision to radically upgrade the region’s train services is to gain momentum, transport chiefs have been warned.
Council leaders gave their backing on Tuesday afternoon to an ambitious strategy to open a string of new rail lines by 2035, cut air pollution, and give a gigantic boost to the North East economy. The first North East Rail and Metro Strategy includes plans to reopen the disused Leamside railway line and extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to new areas, including Washington and the Silverlink.
But decision-makers were warned that some “quick wins” would be needed to give the blueprint credibility. Dave Shaw, of the South East Northumberland Rail User Group and Rail Future, told a meeting of the North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) that the project could be labelled a “waste of time” if passengers did not see improvements within a few years.
