Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has committed to reviving rail connection across the north-east, outlining how new investment will boost the rail network as the government looks to level up infrastructure across the country.
On his visit to Horden Peterlee, a new £10.55 million project set to be finished in May 2020, Mr Shapps hailed the significance of developing the rail network, ensuring passengers and businesses across the region have the frequent, reliable journeys they rely on.
Evolving connectivity for an area currently with no station over a 20-kilometre stretch, Hordon Peterlee will be served by 1 train per hour calling at all stations between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, and has been supported by £4.4 million from the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund.
The Transport Secretary is also visiting Blyth to see first-hand the possibility for restoring passenger services along the Ashington to Blyth line, undoing over half a century of damage subsequent to the Beeching cuts.
The government has confirmed it will establish a £500 million fund to look into reopening former routes which could benefit communities who lost vital transport connections.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “2020 will be a year of action on the railways with the north sitting at the heart of the improvements.
Investing in new stations like Horden Peterlee will deliver more modern, reliable services for passengers. We are also ambitious to restore connections to communities who have lost out, and the Northumberland line has huge potential to deliver that.
Our focus is levelling up infrastructure across the country, ensuring passengers see the benefit of new trains, new stations and fairer fares.”
