Extra parking, more bus services and a bus interchange are part of the Teesside Park plan.
Matt Vickers MP has hailed recently unveiled plans to open a new bus and railway station at Teesside Park.
£150m has been allocated to build a new transport interchange at the popular retail park, providing a vital link for shoppers. Those visiting by train currently have to travel from Thornaby Station to get to the complex - which is also set to receive an overhaul if the proposals go ahead.
A new rail link and station would be created at Teesside Park, where plans for a major new care and health innovation zone are being developed in a bid to breathe new life into Teesdale Business Park. Also announced are extra parking, more bus services, and a bus interchange.
It comes just weeks after three Stagecoach buses were updated to connect areas such as Middlesbrough, Billingham, Norton and Hartlepool to the park, with expanded route numbers 36, 37, and 38, stopping at three different locations at the site.
The announcement follows the scrapping of the Northern leg of the HS2 rail line by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who then announced an additional £8.55 billion of funding to be provided through city region sustainable transport settlements (CRSTS). This meant that the Tees Valley was allocated a total of £978m of funding for CRSTS for years 2027/28 to 2031/32.
Matt Vickers MP said:
"Almost everyone has experience of sitting in the Christmas traffic at Teesside Park. This new transport hub will be a game changer and will mean greater access to Teesside Park by bus, train and car.
"It will make life easier for people travelling in but also support the many jobs created at the park, and ensure it maintains its place as one of the best retail parks in the country. The improved transport links will also further our ambitious plans to deliver a new health and care zone.
"Across Teesside, we’re seeing unprecedented investment from our Conservative Government. In our railways, we are seeing huge improvements to stations at Eaglescliffe, Darlington and Middlesbrough. In recent times, we’ve seen the first direct service from Thornaby to London and it’s great that we’ll now see Thornaby station benefit from a £10 million upgrade."
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“Teesside Park is one of the most popular destinations for people to shop, eat out, and work but transport to and from it needs to be improved. We’ve all but completed Middlesbrough and Hartlepool Station overhauls and the amazing work at Darlington Station is creating a gateway our region can be proud of.
“The new rail and bus interchange will also link in with plans for Care and Health Innovation Zone at the Tees Marshalling Yards, meaning people will have access to the high-quality jobs created there, as well as better connectivity to Teesside Park.
“On top of the new Teesside Park link, we also want to transform Thornaby Station –making it a station fit for people north and south of the river in the heart of Teesside, especially given the number of services that pass through Thornaby. This huge funding package has provided us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform travel across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“We want our area to be at the forefront of delivering the innovative transport solutions of the future and I look forward to revealing the full details of what we’ve got planned.”
