25.05.12
£4.5m approved for Tees Valley Metro project
Transport minister Norman Baker has approved £4.5m funding towards the Tees Valley Metro project, through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
A new station will be built at theJamesCookUniversityHospitalinMiddlesbrough, to help encourage modal shift and reduce car traffic and congestion around the busy site. The station will be operated by Northern Rail.
The Tees Valley Metro project aims to make improvements to rail betweenDarlingtonand Teesside. The money, secured by Stockton Borough Council, will fund works including electronic timetabling, shelters, lighting, seating and CCTV installation at 11 stations in the area.
The stations are: Allens West, Billingham, Gypsy Lane, Longbeck, Marske, Marton, Nunthorpe, Redcar Central, Redcar East, South Bank and Stockton.
Tees Valley Unlimited managing director Stephen Catchpole told the Northern Echo: “It will help us realise one of our priority transport ambitions to improve passenger facilities, enhance our existing rail network and support the economic regeneration of the area by increasing the mobility of workers and the accessibility of key sites.”
The £4.5m could attract further funding for the remaining stages of the project, Catchpole suggested.
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]
Image c. Mike Garratt, Geograph, under a Creative Commons Licence.