The North East Joint Transport Committee will discuss the adoption of the first North East Rail and Metro Strategy – a new blue print which outlines regional plans to upgrade the East Coast Main Line (ECML), reopen the Leamside Line and extend the Tyne and Wear Metro.

A report, to be discussed on Monday 20 December, outlines a series of steps the region will action to improve capacity of the ECML in the North East and reopen the Leamside Line using Metro and local rail services.

Invest East Coast Rail is urging the Government to invest in improving the resilience of the existing rail network alongside support for new track in tomorrow’s Budget and the forthcoming Integrated Rail Plan.

At its meeting on 19 January, the North East Joint Transport Committee will discuss its campaign to secure major investment in the East Coast Main Line, which includes the reopening of the Leamside Line.

Invest East Coast Rail is calling on the UK and Scottish governments to invest in the East Coast Main Line, after research conducted on their behalf found that economies served by the line could see over £11 billion of wider economic benefits as part of a coherent package of rail

A body set up to assess the North’s rail needs has been told the key to achieving the North East’s long-term economic plans lies in the upgrading of the East Coast Main Line.