Tyne Valley Line: community rail designation
We are seeking views locally on our proposal to designate the Tyne Valley Line routes as a community rail service.
We propose to designate the Tyne Valley Line as a community rail service. This is in line with the Department for Transport’s community rail development strategy which offers ‘new life for local lines’, through a community driven approach.
Designation aims to improve the financial performance, value for money and social value of community railways to help make sure of their long term future.
As the community rail development strategy was widely consulted on, this is a short consultation involving local and rail industry stakeholders.
Designation, and more importantly full local engagement with the railway, can provide a real opportunity to positively shape the future of local rail services.
DfT’s rail franchising programmeThere is an aim to strengthen community rail in our wider rail franchise programme. Full details, including current and forthcoming rail franchise consultations have been published on GOV.UK.