New Northern Express service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough - speculation and ideas.

[DanNCL]

Won't happen without unaffordable levels of work on the ECML. You'd probably need to put in a flying junction/diver under in the northbound direction to make it work reliably and there certainly isn't going to be the traffic for that.

It would be interesting to know roughly how many travel between Tyneside and Teesside by car each day. A lot could probably be tempted to switch to the train if a high quality 100mph express was offered. If the Stillington line was upgraded, 40 minutes from Newcastle to Stockton would be achievable.
Sadly neither the government nor local authorities would ever give this idea enough thought to see the benefits of it.

 

[Coolzac]

It would be interesting to know roughly how many travel between Tyneside and Teesside by car each day. A lot could probably be tempted to switch to the train if a high quality 100mph express was offered. If the Stillington line was upgraded, 40 minutes from Newcastle to Stockton would be achievable.
Sadly neither the government nor local authorities would ever give this idea enough thought to see the benefits of it.

I completely agree. It's so achievable as well if there was the political will to do it. Very frustrating!