Transport: cuts for North East, improvements for Tees Valley
As Tyne and Wear councillors were this week reluctantly approving Metro fares increases of up to 9.5% to stave off a cash crisis, their Tees Valley counterparts were looking forward…
Why North East should forget high-speed rail and get on with local transport improvements
First published on November 19. Updated on December 23 A Green councillor in Sheffield has said what appeared to be the unsayable for a northern politician and announced that he…
Chamber calls for in-region transport improvements
A new report from the North East’s leading business organisation calls for improvements to public transport within the region, as argued by this website, and makes no mention of the…
North East Labour MP calls for new devolution deal
At last! One of the North East’s Labour MPs has had the courage and good sense to call for a devolution deal covering all seven councils in the region, as…
Don’t get too excited over bus plan yet
(This is an updated version of a report first published on October 23) In what will be the first big test of political commitment to levelling up the North East…
New report calls for improved commuter links
Commuting for an hour by public transport in Newcastle increases the number of accessible jobs to only 1.28 for every one job available within five miles. Doing the same in…
North East now missing out on £600m transport funding
The North East could get £600m of government funding for transport improvements - if its seven councils (the LA7) could agree to come together, North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll…
North East seeks devolved transport – Driscoll
The seven North East councils (LA7) have written to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove asking for devolved power over transport, and the funding to go with it, North of Tyne…
Comment of the Day
There has been talk for months of much-coveted transport powers coming our region’s way if a deal can be struck to create a new mayoral role that would reunite seven…
Minister Moves To End Doubt Over Plans For Bebside Station
The government has moved to end uncertainty over plans for the Northumberland rail line which it was feared could have meant axing one of its six stations. Doubt arose when ministers ordered cutbacks to the line, only months after announcing funds to start preparatory work, according to a report in The Journal.
Which Side The Bread Is Buttered
The government has given another £8m to subsidise the Tyne and Wear Metro during the next 11 weeks of lockdown, bringing the total so far to £47m. It’s a relatively small amount but is there to do a specific job.
Another Month, Another Plan…
…and another multi-billion funding plea from North East councillors to the government. This time it is the North East Joint Transport Committee (NEJTC), which will be recommended next week to sign off a North East Transport Plan costing £6.8bn (as a starter) by 2035, for which it will need massive government funding.