Tees Valley Metro

The Tees Valley Metro was a project to upgrade the Tees Valley Line and sections of the Esk Valley Line and Durham Coast Line to provide a faster and more frequent service across the North of England. In the initial phases the services would have been heavy rail mostly along existing alignments. The later phase would have introduced tram-trains to allow street running. The project was backed by all the local authorities through which the system would have run, the authorities are: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees. Support was also forthcoming from the Department for Transport. The project has been cancelled due to lack of funding. Focus is now on Northern Rail franchise. Of the original "Tees Valley Metro" project, only the construction of a new station at James Cook University Hospital has come to fruition.

Tees Valley Metro
mapped proposed route
Overview
StatusProject cancelled by Government in 2010.
LocaleTeesside and the rest of Dale of the Tees, England
Service
TypeMetro, Commuter Rail
ServicesLine 1 (Darlington via Middlesbrough to Saltburn)
Line 2 (Hartlepool to Nunthorpe Parkway)
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Route
Proposed Route 1
 Saltburn
 Marske
 Longbeck
 The Ings
Stage 2
 Redcar East
 Redcar Central
 Wilton
Possibly relocated
British Steel Redcar
Stage 1a
 South Bank
 Middlehaven
Stage 1b
Esk Valley Line
to Nunthorpe Parkway
Stage 2
 Middlesbrough
 Teesside Park
Stage 1a
 Thornaby
Durham Coast Line
to Hartlepool
 Eaglescliffe
 Allens West
Durham Tees Valley Airport
Relocated Teesside Airport
Stage 1a
 Dinsdale
 Morton Palms
Stage 1b
East Coast Main Line south
 Darlington
East Coast Main Line north
Tees Valley Line
to Bishop Auckland
Proposed Route 2
Nunthorpe Parkway
Stage 2
 Nunthorpe
 Gypsy Lane
 Marton
James Cook
University Hospital
Stage 1
Tees Valley Line
Stage 1 to Saltburn
 Middlesbrough
 Teesside Park
Stage 1a
 Thornaby
Tees Valley Line
Stage 1 to Darlington/Bishop Auckland
 Stockton
 Billingham
 Queens Meadow
Stage 2
 Seaton Carew
 Hartlepool
Durham Coast Line
to Newcastle

The proposed initial routes would have used sections of the Tees Valley, Esk Valley and Durham Coast Lines. There were no current plans as to the interoperability of the continuing services and the new metro services. This would have been considered at the next stage of the process.[1] Several new stations will be built along the routes in two stages. After stage two additional routes using street running may be considered.

Detailed plans
the two lines of the propose metro

The project was planned to be delivered in two phases, with the first phase split into stages.

Phase 1

Initial work was proposed to be complete by December 2012 and would have included:

These improvements were estimated to cost £30 – 40 million.[2]

The second stage of Phase 1 was due to be completed in December 2014.

  • New stations at Teesside Park, Morton Park and Middlehaven.
  • New rolling stock, Class 172 Turbostar was put forward.
  • Refurbishment of other stations on Route 1

The cost of these improvements was estimated at £50 – 60 million.[2]

Phase 2

This phase included improvements to the Esk Valley Line between Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough, and on the Durham Coast Line between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool; new stations at Morton Palms, Middlehaven, The Ings and Nunthorpe Parkway were also proposed, and a further reduction in journey times between Darlington and Stockton.

Planned timeline and shelving

The project had originally received approval from the Interim Regional Transport Board in September 2008, allowing more detailed plans and a public consultation to go ahead. Construction of the first phase was due to commence in 2010[3] and would have been completed by the end of 2013. Phase one would cost around £80 million and Network Rail had already committed £40 million for signalling improvements. The second phase would cost a further £140 million and would have been in place by 2018.

On 23 July 2009 the project received in-principle funding from the Department for Transport via the Regional Funding Allocation process. Each of the individual components is being treated as an individual project, eligible for fast track funding.[4] Funding was expected for the two new platforms at Darlington, the reopening of platform 3 at Middlesbrough, the relocation of Teesside Airport station to within 350 m of the terminal building, improvements at Eaglescliffe, Thornaby and Hartlepool, including new lifts and footbridges, and the new station at James Cook University Hospital.[5][6] Reports mentioned a possible new station between Middlesbrough and Redcar Central, proposed as a new station for Wilton International,[4] reopening Grangetown Station or improving and bringing South Bank station fully into use,[5] or relocating Redcar British Steel station[2] As well as the infrastructure improvements the improved rolling stock and increased frequency for trains will be introduced.[5]

This project has been officially shelved by central Government and Tees Valley Unlimited due to lack of and cut funding for the project by Government and lack of interest in the project from Network Rail.

Implemented after shelving

Rail services provided by Northern Rail with some work to try and marginally improve journey times is now the plan going forward.

In 2014, a new railway station at the rear of James Cook University Hospital, was built and opened.[7]

In May 2014, Thornaby Railway Station's ticket office was refurbished and extended. The Government, whilst not ensuring, has requested that new franchise holder from 2016 onwards must attempt to refurbish or replace 35 year old Pacer trains currently in use.

References
  1. "Tees Valley Unlimited: Transport for Tees Valley" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  2. "Draft Business Case" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  3. "Tees Valley Metro". Arup. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  4. "Formalities waived for Tees Valley Metro stations". Transport Briefing. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  5. "£30m pledge for Tees Valley Metro". Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  6. "Boost for Tees Valley metro plan". BBC. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  7. "Work begins on new £2.2m rail station at the back of James Cook University Hospital". Retrieved 6 February 2014.
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