North East Rail and Metro Strategy

The future of North East rail

Following the publication of the North East Transport Plan in 2021, the North East Rail and Metro Strategy (NERMS) has been created which sets out how Rail and Metro can play a key role in achieving our region’s shared transport vision and objectives.

Rail plays an important part in the day-to-day lives of many local people and the draft strategy outlines our ambitions up to 2035.

Some of the main actions which the region will take forward include:

  • Obtaining a Government commitment to increasing capacity of the East Coast Main Line for passengers and freight
  • Extending the Tyne and Wear Metro, upgrading existing networks and adding new stations and routes – including the Leamside Line and Northumberland Line
  • Working with Great British Railways to form a new partnership which represents the North East, ensuring local needs are taken into account
  • Introducing new trains – including a more efficient electric fleet on Metro and electric/battery/hydrogen local rail trains
  • Improvements to several regional railways stations including Newcastle and Sunderland and new stations such as Gateshead East

North East Rail and Metro Strategy

Read the North East Rail and Metro Strategy by clicking below.

Read the North East Rail and Metro Strategy

Read a summary of the North East Rail and Metro Strategy here.

Consultation

Thank you to those who took part in the public consultation on the North East Rail and Metro Strategy between February and April 2022. The final strategy was approved by the North East Joint Transport Committee on 14 June 2022.

Connectivity Plan map from North East Transport Plan | Transport North East
Where we want to be by 2035 – regional rail connectivity

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair, North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Our transport links are central to the long-term growth and prosperity of the region, and by having the North East Rail and Metro Strategy in place, we are in the best place to deliver on these bold ambitions.

“We want to connect new communities to our rail network, driving more green journeys, tackling air pollution head-on while reducing the reliance on the private car and the associated congestion across our road network.”

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