We are now in the last few days of the consultation on bus franchising in the North East. Monday 28 September at 9am is the last opportunity to take part. The more people who can take part, then the stronger the message, showing that people in our region really care about our buses and public transport.
If you haven’t had time to fill out the consultation survey, North East Public Transport Users’ Group (NEPTUG) have helpfully compiled a page of information to help you formulate your response to the survey questions with some suggestions of what you could include. You can access that page here.
Similarly, NEPTUG have some ideas here about how you can use social media to spread the word about the consultation and encourage others to take part.
Mayor lays tracks for North East rail vision
Meanwhile on a similar note, it was reported on 21 September that major plans have been established for greater local control over rail services This is all a part of developing a long-term vision to ensure that there are better stations, fares and connections, across the North East.
Proposals have been made by North East Combined Authority Mayor Kim McGuinness, for our region to have a greater say over its rail network. It is envisaged that this will lead to more frequent services, integrated ticketing and improved stations.
The North East Rail Vision is due to be considered by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority Cabinet and is intended to set out a roadmap to the year 2040.
An integral part of the plan is to return local rail into the proposed Angel Network alongside Metro and bus and services, through the development of simpler ticketing and the Mayor’s Fares being extended to local trains as well as buses.
Building the Metro extension to Washington with three new stations will also be included in the Vision along with making real progress on the Leamside Line, It is intended that that this initiative will allow Northern Powerhouse Rail services into the region by releasing extra capacity on the East Coast Main Line.
Development work on the Leamside Line alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail has already been approved by the government.
It is also hoped that modern electric and battery-powered trains can be introduced into the region, an increase in the number of stations which will be served every 30 minutes and that the successful Northumberland Line can be extended to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, with additional seats also available on the line.
Under the plans city centres in the North East will also see earlier and later trains and measures taken to improve safety and accessibility.
Sunderland, Newcastle Central and Metrocentre will see station improvements, while reliability across the Metro network will be improved by the establishment of a new signalling system.
Mayor McGuinness commented: “Devolution is our chance to finally transform how the rail system is run and to make it far more affordable for local people.
“I have been clear I want to see more powers given to regions so the needs of local people are at the heart of every decision – that’s how it should be, and that’s what I’m fighting for.
“Devolution of rail powers such as more control over our local stations will allow us to take quicker action to improve stations and trains, delivering improvements everyone can see when they travel.
“We know now is the time to act – with the Prime Minister championing further devolution for our regions and the formation of the new rail body Great British Railways.
“We need to be at the forefront of this, setting out what we want for rail – reversing decades of under investment and failures to deliver the transformation that people expect to see.
“I know what’s needed and it is a big task, people tell me too often that things will ‘never happen’ when it comes to our rail plans but I’ll prove them wrong – I will deliver change for the people of the North East.”
Public transport is the way forward for the North East
With temperature records being regularly broken as the Climate Crisis intensifies, while so many people in the North East continue to struggle in the cost-of-living crisis, then surely, cheap reliable public transport has to be the way forward to help our region to develop as it should,
The bus consultation and the rail plans put forward by Mayor McGuinness are important steps on a road we must take, for the sake of our people and the planet. Let us hope that developments in public transport can be undertaken quickly and effectively.
What happens when the media itself becomes part of the problem? Who holds it to account? 14 years after the Leveson Inquiry reported its findings, has anything really changed? And how can we build something better?
Join Bylines Network on Wednesday 21 October, for a vital conversation about the media Britain needs — and what it will take to get there.
The event will conclude with a live audience Q&A.
