Transport for the North

It’s not just fewer potholes that we welcome - it’s the government’s:
🚗 record £7.3 billion funding
🚗 focus on long-term planning rather than short-term fixes
🚗 targeted support for local highway authorities

Safer roads and smarter investment help keep the North moving.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-well-is-your-council-fixing-your-roads

The multi-million-pound Tyne Bridge restoration remains on schedule for completion ahead of its centenary in October 2028, ensuring this critical transport artery between Newcastle and Gateshead stays safe and operational.

Major progress in 2025 included completing steelwork repairs below the bridge deck, with the bridge remaining open throughout for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Work continues on the parapets in 2026, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness confirming £6.3m in vital funding.

Essential work protecting a vital North East transport route. Keeping this major gateway between our communities safe and operational for generations to come.

North East Combined Authority

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/35971/Tyne-Bridge-restoration-a-look-back-at-2025

More progress on the The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) with the festive period seeing significant developments at Mirfield, Deighton and Huddersfield.

Realigned tracks, new signalling, longer platforms and upgraded facilities are being reported by the team at TRU. New lifts are due to be commissioned and will provide step-free access for the first time later this month.

Team TRU delivers package of festive railway upgrades During this time, engineers made significant progress at key locations including Mirfield, Deighton and Huddersfield, while a closure of the line between Leeds and York enabled the installation and testing of new signalling and track upgrades, to support a more efficient railway in the future.

The Department for Transport has unveiled its first road safety strategy in over a decade, aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035.

Key proposals include consultations on eyesight testing for drivers over 70, minimum learning periods for learner drivers, tackling illegal number plates and mandating 18 new vehicle safety technologies.

Transport for the North has been working with partners on road safety improvements across the region. Check out our latest road safety research report, gathering insights from over 500 Northern transport users to support Vision Zero targets.

Important steps for road safety. Progress that will help save lives across the North and beyond.

www.transportforthenorth.com

Work has begun on a new £24m Shields Ferry landing at North Shields Fish Quay, securing the future of the vital cross-river service after years of concerns about the deteriorating current jetty.

The new landing is expected to open in 2027 and forms a key part of North Tyneside Council's wider regeneration of North Shields Fish Quay.

Preparatory works are now underway on the riverside, funded by Nexus and Kim McGuinness- North East Mayor.

Excellent news for the North East!

Shields Ferry's £24m new Fish Quay landing deal sealed Belfast-based construction and civil engineering firm McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded a contract to build a new Shields Ferry landing next to the Fish Quay

The Northumberland Line is set to welcome its millionth passenger in the coming weeks, exceeding all journey forecasts in its first year of service.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy has asked Northern to identify if any permanent stock reallocations are possible to boost capacity on the line, with two more stations opening early this year at Northumberland Park and Bedlington.

The Northumberland Line is a brilliant success story for the North. A million passengers in year one shows just how much this line was needed.

Northumberland Line | South-East Northumberland to Newcastle | England Re-introduction of direct passenger trains between Ashington in south-east Northumberland and the centre of Newcastle.

2026 is shaping up to be another successful year for The Transpennine Route Upgrade. With over 25% of the line now electrified between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester, the project is on track to deliver improvements to journey times and reliability.

Better connected towns and cities through improved transport will deliver economic growth in the North.

Transpennine Route Upgrade look back on 2025 as progress continues at pace Across the 70 miles, significant headway has been made with the roll-out of electrical overhead lines, supporting greener, cleaner rail travel and helping to modernise services for the long term. In August, Team TRU celebrated a key milestone as 25% of the route was electrified between York and Chur...

Sheffield is set to expand its electric vehicle charging network after securing a share of £8.9m government funding allocated to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The city currently has 400 public EV charge points including 93 run by the council. The new funding will support expansion and could include trials of pavement channels or gullies, allowing drivers to charge from home without trailing wires.

More charging points will lead to greater EV adoption and greener transport for South Yorkshire.

Sheffield to get more EV charging points after funding Sheffield currently has 400 public EV charge points including 93 run by the council.

Bus shelters are going green in Cheshire, as Cheshire West and Chester Council install ten new bus shelters featuring living roofs planted with native wildflowers to boost biodiversity and attract pollinators.

The first of these shelters has been installed, featuring solar powered lighting and covered seating, making them more sustainable while delivering better, improved passenger facilities.

Bus shelters go green Living Roof bus shelters are on their way to west Cheshire, with up to ten new bus shelters being planned as part of a bus stop maintenance programme.

West Yorkshire Vision Zero is calling on the public to get involved in improving road safety, as West Yorkshire looks to make roads safer after 40 people lost their lives on the region’s roads last year.

We’ve published a report exploring the attitudes of residents across the North towards road safety and speed management.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Read our report here 👉 https://www.transportforthenorth.com/publications/northern-transport-voices-attitudes-to-road-safety-and-speed-management-summary-report-2/

Safety and public transport in the North - summary report - Transport for the North Although Transport for the North works in close partnership with the DfT, this website represents our views and not those of the Government.

Northern has reported a record 68% customer satisfaction score, an improvement on last years Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) figures.

Station cleanliness now stands at 80% (up 7 points), station security at 72% (up 5 points) and staff availability at 67%, reflecting sustained improvement for rail passengers in the North.

Northerns efforts to improve reliability, comfort and customer-facing services across the network is being recognised by their customers, showing encouraging progress. We look forward to seeing further improvements in 2026.

Northern records big jump in customer satisfaction across the North of England | Northern News Train operator Northern has reported a strong set of customer experience results, with new figures showing passengers are feeling noticeably better about the support they receive on their journeys.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade has awarded £250,000 across 35 local organisations along the route between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester through the 2025 TRU Community Fund.

Recipients include a youth hub in Huddersfield, a primary school in York for outdoor play facilities, and a cancer support centre in Manchester.

Improving transport while supporting the communities that need it most.

TRU offer £250,000 in grants to local organisations Launched in 2024, the TRU Community Fund aims to help local community groups, schools and charities to create or enhance community-focused facilities, spaces and places across the 70-mile route. The second iteration has seen 35 successful applicants offered small, medium and large grants of £1000, ...