Poor links proving costly
TRANSPORT AND TICKET PRICES ARE HAMPERING NORTH EAST
Reporter EXPENSIVE tickets and an unreliable transport system is costing the region when it comes to investment.
A report from the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) found 49% of businesses would be more likely to invest if improvements were made to our public transport network.
More than half of chamber members also believe the current transport system does not function well as a single network, while 40% claim improving it would have the biggest impact on improving North East connectivity.
The region has more no-car households than anywhere in the country outside London, with more bus passengers than anywhere else.
Arlen Pettitt, policy adviser at the NEECC, said: “Our members need a reliable, efficient public transport network to help them do business across the region and, importantly, to ensure they can reach the largest possible skilled workforce.”
To do this, the chamber must call for investment in the region’s buses and trains and promote the idea of a simplified one-ticket-for-all option.
None of the 200 businesses and employees surveyed feel they have a role in working to improve public transport and want a bigger say.
Although NECC says it acknowledges operators are already carrying out good work to improve public transport journeys. Nexus is hoping to replace trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro with a new fleet from 2021, complete with London undergroundstyle seating to make the space more efficient, However, it needs government support to do this.
Bus company Stagecoach launched contactless payment on-board in December, while Central Station Metro has had a £6m revamp.
Kevin Bell, transport partner at Bond Dickinson, said: “Many of the improvements we need are already on the radar of the region’s transport operators, who have made extensive investments and have ambitious plans for the future. It is now vital the rest of the business community gets involved.”
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes, who is the Regional Transport Portfolio Holder on the North East Combined Authority, has admitted the region’s public transport systems leave a lot to be desired.
He said: “Getting around the North East, to your job or for a day out, needs to be easier, and we while we’ve seen significant improvements such as in our lobbying for A1 upgrades, there is more needed to ensure the region has the transport infrastructure it deserves.
“Across Newcastle and the rest of the North East, it is clear government should do more to back our transport network. A big test of that commitment will soon be in front of ministers as we make the case for a new £500m metro fleet.
“Investment such as this will be vital if we are to grow our economy and deliver benefits for all.”