Call for better rail links between Teesside and Tyneside

A Northern train travels crosses the High Level Bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead Credit: PA Images

Frustration over rail services "not being up to scratch" between Teesside and Tyneside has reared its head again.

Faster journeys between Middlesbrough and Newcastle have been urged by a council probe seeking to improve infrastructure on Teesside and beyond.

Middlesbrough Council leaders gave the review their stamp of approval last week which included a call for a "faster direct service from Middlesbrough to Newcastle".

The report added:

Executive councillor Mieka Smiles wasn't aware of the possibility of a train taking a different line between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

She added:

Efforts to bring a new Northern service to Tyneside by opening up the existing Stillington to Durham goods line to passengers hit the buffers late last year.

Network Rail turned down the request pointing to a lack of capacity on the East Coast Main Line where part of the proposed service would run.

Despite the council report branding a County Durham coastal alternative "too long", rail bosses are still working to use the line via Hartlepool and Sunderland to put on extra services to Newcastle.

In January, Network Rail bosses said an old freight siding needed to be upgraded to free up the line for passenger routes.

Chris Gee, head of operations for Network Rail's north and east route, said they were still committed to working on a better service between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

He added:

The transport boss said he was aware of the aim of bringing back passenger services on the Stillington Line - adding Network Rail was in talks over the idea.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has a long-term aim to improve links between the region and the rest of the country.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said timetable changes were often slow and complex processes.

He added:

The mayor believed the firm was "putting a bid together" for this route but had doubts about when it would arrive.

Mr Houchen said:

Northern Rail runs a service between Nunthorpe and Newcastle every hour in the week which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to get to Tyneside.

A spokeswoman for the government-controlled firm said: