£377m bid to transform sustainable travel in North East

The North East and North of Tyne Combined Authorities have launched an ambitious £377 million bid to transform the way people travel around the North East.

A new passenger rail line for Northumberland, more park and ride around city centres, improvements to bus, walking and cycle routes and more frequent Metro services all form part of the region's bid for government Transforming Cities funding. If successful the programme will be delivered over the next four years.

The £377m bid is made up of five key themes, part of a £448m programme of investment up to 2023, including: £82.9 million invested in 16 miles of improvements to bus corridors into and through town and city centres; £59.1 million to transform 29 miles of cycle and walking routes; £15.6 million to build new and larger park and ride sites for bus and Metro in Durham, Gateshead and north of Newcastle; £234.5 million to provide a new passenger rail line between Ashington, Blyth and Newcastle; and £55.9 million to upgrade key gateway rail stations.

Martin Gannon, chair of the Joint Transport Committee, said: "We are seeking to transform the way people travel around the North East because that unlocks access to jobs, training and opportunity and drives the whole economy. We have built an ambitious programme which reaches all parts of our region from Northumberland to Durham to put simple, sustainable, environmentally friendly travel at the heart of our plans for the North East's future.

"Our final programme follows extensive engagement with businesses, developers and transport operators in the region. It ranges from smaller walking and cycling schemes to major upgrades to our rail network, but all focused on the key corridors people use to move around the North East."

Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality at Newcastle City Council, said: "Newcastle is delighted to be part of the ambitious bid to truly transform the region’s transport network and make sustainable travel a real  choice for the people living in the North East. By developing plans for infrastructure improvements across the two combined authority areas, we can ensure a better and connected region, improving access to education, jobs and investment while at the same time improving our air quality as people will be able to make smarter, cleaner and greener travel choices."

The Department for Transport launched the Transforming Cities Fund in 2018 with 12 city-regions invited to bid for funding from a total pot of £1.28 billion.