Over the last couple of years, there has been a building argument that more needs to be done to act in response to the rising climate and how we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It is evident now more than ever, that action needs to be taken and in an announcement by the Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, last week, it is clear that action is being taken on a local level. Having secured £1bn for transport projects in the Tees Valley, the Mayor unveiled his plans aimed at boosting the capacity, efficiency and speed of services in the local area. With everything from trackless trams to more trains from Darlington to Hartlepool, it is clear that local public transport is being vastly overhauled.

 

While the announcement came with loads of transport investment projects, let’s focus on the projects which I feel will have the biggest impact on reducing our impact on the environment, while improving the efficiency for consumers:

 

Firstly, running direct trains from Darlington to Hartlepool, will not only provide better connectivity among the Tees Valley, but it will also remove the need for commuters to change at either Thornaby or Eaglescliffe, speeding up journey times and making services more convenient. In addition to the convenience and speed, the services will further incentivise commuters to make use of train services, making them a greener option and better for the environment. With the addition of a second platform at Hartlepool station, a third platform at Middlesbrough and more platforms coming to Darlington, this comes at a perfect time!

 

Secondly, the addition of trackless trams in town centres of Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar would be a great way to offer a more convenient and reliable public transport service to consumers. The fully electric trams would likely offer commuters a greater incentive and this in turn could reduce the traffic congestion in the centres - improving journey times, while being greener.

 

Finally, building up a case for the full electrification of the line between Saltburn and Northallerton, would cut journey times, allow operators to provide a more reliable service to consumers and work to reduce emissions - by providing a larger incentive for commuters to make use of the railway network. With TransPennine Express, LNER & Grand Central trains all using the line to access the East Coast Mainline at Northallerton for services to London, Manchester & beyond - this would be likely a very welcome project to bring the Teesside railway services into the 21st century.

 

Overall, it is evident that these projects will likely be welcomed by many and demonstrates the shift of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) towards a brighter and greener future, further emphasising the importance of the “Net Zero Teesside” Scheme.