R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION This route covers the passenger railways in the North East,
particularly those serving the conurbations on the Rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees.
It provides lowland regional passenger services, while carrying a substantial
volume of freight trains from Teesside and Tyneside and providing a link to
WCML and Scotland via Carlisle.
Route vision
Our vision is to develop the routes in the North East (i) to allow introduction of
new services using existing passenger lines and lesser-used freight-only lines and
(ii) reduce journey times wherever practicable. We wish also to develop further
freight connections to the network at industrial sites throughout the North East.
The biggest development project is the extension of the Tyne & Wear
Metro System from Newcastle to Sunderland and South Hylton (Sunderland
University). We have been working very closely with NEXUS (Tyne & Wear
PTE) to draw up detailed plans for this. Following discussion with Government in
late 1998, we are now working with NEXUS to assess the extent of funding we
can provide. This has involved detailed design work and evaluating likely costs.
A swift resolution of this issue is needed in order to adhere to the project
timescales. The scheme will provide a direct, very frequent, Metro connection
between Sunderland and the extensive NEXUS Tyne & Wear Metro system.
This is an exciting scheme – for the people of Sunderland, for NEXUS and for us.
It will provide a level of city centre access that can only be achieved through a
Metro system. The scheme will also pioneer the running of lightweight Metro
vehicles on the national rail network, creating an example that can be mirrored
elsewhere. We will use TPWS (see Section 4.7) to manage the joint operation of
trains and trams on this line.
Opportunities for other passenger services have been identified through
our work on the East Coast Main Line (Route 2). In particular, the freight priority
routes will open up the possibility of new passenger rail stations and services.
One such service is a fast Middlesbrough–Newcastle service, which could serve
new stations on the currently disused Leamside Line at Durham A1 Parkway and
at Washington. Another scheme which we are keen to promote, depending on
funding partners, is to open up the freight line to Ashington northeast of
Newcastle, to passenger services.
The lines within the area are predominantly two track with typical
linespeeds of 60mph; the exception is the single-track Whitby branch with
linespeeds of 30–40mph.
This could provide for passenger services from Newcastle to stations at
Backworth (a possible park and ride off the A19 and Metro interchange), Blyth,
Bedlington and Ashington.
We are investigating an opportunity to develop rail facilities in conjunction
with probable expansion of the Metro Centre (a large shopping centre west of
Newcastle). Specifically, by building turnback facilities at the existing station, it
would be possible to develop additional services to Metro Centre from places
such as Morpeth, Durham and Darlington.
Freight growth has been projected to double over the next five years,
principally on flows from Teesside and Tyne Dock and on flows to the ECML.
We will develop schemes to sustain the growth of these freight services, as we
project capacity will be exceeded by 2005. Schemes are also being evaluated to
provide facilities for high-gauge traffic from Teesside and Tyne Dock. We are
working to understand the potential for freight services to Whitby.
Reduced passenger journey times is an important part of our vision for the
routes in the North East. We are evaluating how best to achieve our immediate
target journey time of 75 minutes for Carlisle to Newcastle, with an ultimate aim
of 70 minutes. The reopening of the Leamside Line, as noted above, will also
provide for much faster journeys between Teesside and Tyneside.
Finally, we have been working with Northern Spirit and the North Yorkshire
Moors Railway to develop tourism along the Esk Valley line to Whitby; most
visibly by supporting the running of steam trains from Pickering to Whitby. We
hope to develop this initiative further for the benefit of rail enthusiasts and
passengers alike.
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