DTV Airport (Teesside Airport)

[OMGitsDAVE]

I recently contacted Northern Rail about the introduction of a stop atleast every two hours at Durham Tees Valley Airport (station named Teesside Airport) as there is currently only 2 WEEKLY Services.

In reply, I got this:

Dear Mr *****,

Thank you for your e-mail, which I received recently.

I am sorry that you feel Northern do not serve the local area well enough by not having services call at Teesside Airport. All routes we operate are run in such a manner as to meet the franchise commitments agreed with the Department for Transport (DfT). These do not include services to the airport.

Teesside Airport is well served by the Metro and Northern rail services connect with these services at many stations across the region.

I regret that at this time there are no plans to introduce new services in your area.

Yours sincerely,
****** ******

One of the things I picked up about this email is the fact he mentioned "The Metro", where is that? There's no Metro at Teesside, perhaps he meant Newcastle?

I really think that Teesside needs a link to its airport, not only for public use, but to keep a vital link available for the local economy. New flights are slowly being introduced, but no doubt they will suffer from a lack of passengers if they cannot drive. Quite appalling, in my eyes anyway.

Your thoughts?

 

[Bellwater]

They must have thought Teeside and Newcastle Airports were the same.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

They must have thought Teeside and Newcastle Airports were the same.

Wouldn't surprise me. What do you think about a service serving DTV?

Plenty of Saltburn, Middlesbrough & Darlington trains pass through, surely some could stop?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I recently contacted Northern Rail about the introduction of a stop atleast every two hours at Durham Tees Valley Airport (station named Teesside Airport) as there is currently only 2 WEEKLY Services.

In reply, I got this:


One of the things I picked up about this email is the fact he mentioned "The Metro", where is that? There's no Metro at Teesside, perhaps he meant Newcastle?

I really think that Teesside needs a link to its airport, not only for public use, but to keep a vital link available for the local economy. New flights are slowly being introduced, but no doubt they will suffer from a lack of passengers if they cannot drive. Quite appalling, in my eyes anyway.

Your thoughts?

Aren't there plans for a tram-train system to run 4tph Darlington-Middlesbrough-Saltburn. this may increase service at DTV. The tram-train option for the route is well past proposal stage.

 

[adambro]

There are (or were, not sure of the current situation) proposals that would involve relocating the DTV station and providing a proper service as part of the Tees Valley Metro project.

It isn't clear yet where the station would be moved to. My understanding previously was that the station would be moved to about here. That wouldn't put it much closer to the terminal but it would make it feasible perhaps to have the buses that serve the airport stopping at the airport station.

However, recent new reports suggest it would be within 350 yards of the station which would suggest elsewhere and necessitate quite a significant re-routing of the line rather than just putting a station in a different place on the current alignment. Another option could be a triangle junction to the north with a terminus station at the airport. That would probably involve the least new land.

 

[northwichcat]

Northern's Customer Relations don't read letters and emails properly. I complained once when around 100 people were stood up on an off-peak service and made it clear that I'd checked that an earlier service had not been cancelled. Their response was... as a previous train was cancelled... !!!! and then when in to giving details about the DfT's 200 extra diesel vehicles after it had been announced that it would be reviewed following the electrification announcement.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

The Tees Valley Metro is going ahead, as Hartlepool Station has been regenerated for it etc.

There is plenty of scope for a service, just Northern can't see it, at all.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Am I the only person who hates tram trains and despises light rail outside of cities (ie Oldham Loop)?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The Tees Valley Metro is going ahead, as Hartlepool Station has been regenerated for it etc.

There is plenty of scope for a service, just Northern can't see it, at all.

You know if they're bringing the old platform 3 back into use at Hartlepool?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Am I the only person who hates tram trains and despises light rail outside of cities (ie Oldham Loop)?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


You know if they're bringing the old platform 3 back into use at Hartlepool?

I looked into it, and it is NOT being brought back into use just yet, although they are sprucing it up with artworks and the like to make the station more attractive. The termini-platform (2) will be the terminus for the Metro, though.

 

[LE Greys]

I've been looking at the plans, and if you compare it with Dyce (which is officially an airport station as well) then it's not so bad. Dyce happens to be on the wrong side of the airport!!!

Am I the only person who hates tram trains and despises light rail outside of cities (ie Oldham Loop)?

Sort of. While I'm sure that tram-trains sound like a good idea, using rolling stock without proper facilities (toilets on trams ) is not really a good idea. Shutting off non-tram traffic from a line is a bit daft as well. Besides, it seems a bit like that brilliant idea of putting bus bodies on rail underframes .

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Totally agree. I believe Northern should atleast have a train every 2-hours stop at DTV, just to prove a point.

 

[adambro]

Totally agree. I believe Northern should atleast have a train every 2-hours stop at DTV, just to prove a point.

I'm sure Network Rail would love that idea.

 

[142094]

I remember hearing a few years back that hardly anyone was using Tees-side Aiport station even when there were more frequent trains, so that is why the Parliamentary service is in place. The main problem is that it is in the wrong place and too far away from the terminal, so not exactly attractive for people carrying suitcases etc. There used to be a shuttle between the station and the entrance, but that went down the plug hole. IIRC there was then a bus service from Darlington station to the Aiport, but I don't think this is still running.

From what I've read above the Tees Metro is gathering pace, haven't look at the details in a while. Might just have to wait until then to get more frequent services.

As for Hartlepool, the station was due to be done up before the Tees Metro project was even started. Must be a good 10-15 years since they were going to put in the new bus station. The old platform doesn't look to be used any time soon, guessing they feel just the two will do. Time will tell.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Went past Hartlepool station today on my daily school bus...

Noticed the following which had been completed over the weekend:
- Lighting now being put in at the Interchange.
- Signs down Church St mentioning "Long stay for Transport Interchange"
- Live Departure Boards being implemented in Church Square (mid-way between the town centre & station)

Things seem to be looking up.

 

[142094]

Probably getting ready for the Tall Ships in the summer. However all that bare land behind the station and the half finished flats on the Marina will stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[tbtc]

Talking of the Tees Metro, will this mean frequenter Middlesbrough - Hartlepool services (but still just the one Northern service an hour Hartlepool - Sunderland)?

 

[142094]

From what I can find, phase two will see an improvement in services between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, so not the whole of the Durham coast line. The April 2009 draft says there will be trains every 15 minutes between Hartlepool and Nunthorpe.

 

[tbtc]

From what I can find, phase two will see an improvement in services between Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, so not the whole of the Durham coast line. The April 2009 draft says there will be trains every 15 minutes between Hartlepool and Nunthorpe.

Cheers

I can see Nunthorpe to Hartlepool justifying it, given a few years. Just a shame this couldn't have been done at the same time as the Sunderland Metro service, of course

 

[142094]

Seeing as Teeside isn't in a PTE area, I think it is about time a new one is created for that area. Seems a logical step to improve transport in what is quite a heavily populated area.

The Durham coast line should have at least a 2tph service by now, although there was talk of reopening the Leamside line and having all the express trains go that way, leaving Seaham etc to have the local slow service.

 

[Bellwater]

Wouldn't surprise me. What do you think about a service serving DTV?

Plenty of Saltburn, Middlesbrough & Darlington trains pass through, surely some could stop?

Trial it, as a request stop maybe?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Trial it, as a request stop maybe?

Exactly what I was thinking of to start with, then if proves popular, increase it to a timetabled stop?

 

[reb0118]

I flew out of Durham Tees Valley a few years back. After getting well oiled in "Hogans" in Darlington. Four pints for £5:20. We headed to Dinsdale just because we were advised against it. Ended up missing the bus and had to pile into a taxi. Ah those were the days.

ps We were all dressed in kilts with feathers in our bonnets. The locals thought that the Bonnie Prince was on the march again. Gies yer shoes!!

 

[ainsworth74]

If they were to operate it as a request stop then I would think some heavy promotion of its changed status would be required, as I imagine not all that many people even know it exists the service is so bad!

 

[Capybara]

I have said this before, but I'll say it again. About seven or eight years ago I had cause to use the only train of the week that stopped there. It was on a Saturday morning then. I fully expected the train to stop and not even open the doors. There were actually two groups of people waiting to get on, about six people in total. I wonder if they realised they were using the only train of the week to stop there.

 

[adambro]

It's been said before but I think the point is worth emphasising again considering the suggestions that Northern should improve the DTV service. The main problem is the distance from the terminal. It is 1km at least, and could be up to 2.25km. The longer distance is because I note recent increases in security seem to have blocked the direct route between the terminal and the TNT hangar area.

Even the shorter route, if it were open which it doesn’t seem is the case, would be unlikely to appeal to passengers, many who may of course have luggage. Realistically, the station is only an option for staff working at the various businesses at the airport and the number will only be in the hundreds. Then when you add in the fact that some of those, such as TNT or ATC staff won’t be working conventional hours, it is obvious that the likely demand based upon the current station location would be pretty small.

The other thing to remember is that making it a request stop or whatever involves work and that means money. The work required will involve for example dealing with pathing issues with Network Rail, and possibly, as ainsworth74 has said, publicising the availability of the service. When the likely cost of that work is balanced against what might be achieved through increased passenger revenue, it is unlikely there is much motivation for it to be done.

Realistically I don't see any in service change coming about without the Teesside Metro and its relocation of the station closer to the terminal.

 

[142094]

The onyl other thing would be for DTV to reinstate the bus that they used to have to the terminal. I'd hazard a guess that they will have a spare bus somewhere and could have a small charge to pay for the driver.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

The onyl other thing would be for DTV to reinstate the bus that they used to have to the terminal. I'd hazard a guess that they will have a spare bus somewhere and could have a small charge to pay for the driver.

Well since the airport has been taken over by Vancouver Airport Services (Bough 65% share), it might be worth bringing up...

 

[142094]

Have to see what happes to the Tees Metro now, was any funding actually committed to the project? If it wasn't I would think that not much is going to happen now.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Have to see what happes to the Tees Metro now, was any funding actually committed to the project? If it wasn't I would think that not much is going to happen now.

There have been numerous projects built up around the Metro, such as the Hartlepool Transport Interchange which is expected to be finished very shortly - saw them putting bus stops in just the other day.

There are part-funded projects being put up, but I don't honestly know - I think Phase 1 was secured.

 

[142094]

Right that sounds similar to what I've heard, but probably means that we'll be seeing the 142s around for a while yet.