Electric infrastructure boost for North East with new region-wide transport plan

Transport leaders are set to agree the North East’s first Transport Plan next week which will see region-wide developments to infrastructure.

The North East Transport Plan is subject to approval by the North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) at its upcoming meeting next week.

Once adopted, it will become the region-wide action plan for strategic transport investment up to 2035, and includes a live programme of 243 schemes which equate to at least £6.8bn of regional transport investment.

Plans include the introduction of multi-operator smartcard ticketing via Network On to improve integration between different bus companies, Tyne and Wear Metro, the Shields Ferry, and local rail services, and the introduction of seven new public electric charge point ‘clusters’ through funding from the Local Growth Fund.

It also outlines the development of a business case to reopen the disused Leamside Line to freight and passenger trains, as well as a partnership approach to working with local bus companies through local association NEbus.

Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, Cllr Martin Gannon, commented: “I am thrilled that we are now in a position to adopt our region’s first Transport Plan, setting out a green transport revolution for the North East up to 2035. This shows what we can do when we work together as a region.

“The decisions that the Joint Transport Committee is taking this week show that the Transport Plan is far more than simply ideas on paper – it outlines our region’s united commitment to carbon neutral transport, our bold vision and our sheer determination to deliver the best possible transport network for the people of the North East.

“The region will immediately see the Transport Plan come to life in tangible ways which benefit us all. It’s an exciting time for the North East and considering we are right at the start of the Transport Plan programme, there’s a lot more to come and we want to work with the Government to make a real difference.”

Lucy Winskell OBE, Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “This pipeline of investment will transform connectivity across the highly diverse area that is the North East, enabling seamless movement of people and goods, and enabling greater access for remote communities.

“I hope everyone will see, read and welcome this transport plan, which moves us a step closer to achieving our carbon neutral transport goals, while helping reduce inequality and deliver safe and sustainable transport choices for all.”