Middlesbrough to Whitby (Esk Valley line)
Esk Valley Line (North Yorkshire). Middlesbrough - Whitby. 37 Miles. Rural line running through a National Park, linked to a successful heritage railway and serving a port and seaside resort. Important role to play in terms of tackling social exclusion. The line is already supported by a Rail Development Company, based in Whitby.
Objectives/actions:
- Fill empty seats on current services
- Develop new markets, particularly at the Middlesbrough end of the line
- Evaluate higher service frequency to make the service more attractive
- Improve arrangements at Battersby (where trains reverse) or remove the need for reversal
- Innovative signalling arrangements to allow regular operation of heritage trains from Pickering North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Whitby
- Continued development of the retail and community potential of stations
- Build up relationships with small businesses along the line
- Evaluate potential for new station to serve the James Cook University Hospital at Middlesbrough
- Integration with local bus and Community Transport services
Progress
This summer a Friday evening service and Sunday services will enable visitors to travel to Whitby by train for a weekend away. The Friday evening service will also be the popular 'music train', with beer and entertainment on board. The Esk Valley Railway Development Company will promote these extra Northern services as well as mid-week steam services from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Glaisdale and Whitby. The Client Group, made up of many diverse local stakeholders, is working together to achieve the objectives of the pilot project.
Designation:
The SRA Executive formally designated the line as one of the first Community Rail lines on 23rd June.
