The Government are set to provide £500 million worth of funding to North East rail services.
The improvements will include bringing new trains to the current Tyne and Wear Metro line, in order to provide better seating and more information to passengers with a £337 million investment.
The Department of Transport will also give 1.5 million to Northumberland County Council's project to reopen the Ashington-Blyth-Tyne line. The line was closed in 1963 due to a series of cuts by British Rail chief Dr Richard Beeching, known as the Beeching cuts. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said with the new funding available they hope to reverse many of the cuts made during that period.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
"Many communities still live with the scars that came from the closure of their local railway more than five decades ago. Today sees work begin to undo the damage of the Beeching cuts by restoring local railways and stations to their former glory. Investing in transport links is essential to levelling up access to opportunities across the country, ensuring our regions are better connected, local economies flourish and more than half a century of isolation is undone."
Middlesbrough Station will also receive £250,000 in funding from the Government, which is hoped to match money available from the Tees Valley Combined Authority who are hoping to help the station accommodate more frequent and larger trains.
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris said:
"We are committed to reinvigorating rail connections across the North East, improving access to jobs, leisure and education across the region. Levelling up the North is a priority for this Government. This investment – to reconnect isolated communities, improve stations and deliver new trains – shows that we are putting our money where our mouth is."
Two previous rounds of funding have already been provided by the Government, which have helped to build 10 new stations in England and Wales.
