An edition of Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the provision of public transport in the region. With proposals for the electrification of the east coast mainline, what benefits will this bring passengers in the Northeast? Who will finance some of the regions non-profitable rail routes if plans to break up metropolitan borough councils go ahead? Will proposals in a new governmental white paper to de-regulate bus services bring chaos to the transport industry?...

An edition of Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the provision of public transport in the region. With proposals for the electrification of the east coast mainline, what benefits will this bring passengers in the Northeast? Who will finance some of the regions non-profitable rail routes if plans to break up metropolitan borough councils go ahead? Will proposals in a new governmental white paper to de-regulate bus services bring chaos to the transport industry? Title: Tyne Tees Briefing Introductory comment made by David Howard Director General of Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) and James Abbott Editor of ‘Modern Railways’ on public transport provision. In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle presenter Ian Breach introduces the programme that will look at the crisis facing transport in the Northeast which is more dependent on public transport than any other area in the country. He holds up a copy of the 1984 White Paper on Buses which some experts have commented could create chaos in the transport industry. A montage of archives stills featuring steam locomotives travelling the east coastline mainline from Newcastle to London in 1935 changes to a modern British Rail (BR) Class 55 Deltic diesel train appearing from inside a tunnel. On the Westcoast mainline an electrified passenger train speeding south towards London while on the contemporary east coast line an Inter-city 125 slowly passes travelling under a bridge. Another Inter-city 125 travels along a track that runs parallel to the High-Level bridge in Newcastle. A montage follows of other Inter-city 125 trains running along regional rail lines. Standing overlooking the High-Level bridge James Abbott Editor of ‘Modern Railways’ is positive about the news on the electrification of the east coast main line and explains why it is good for both BR and the customer especially with faster trains. In his office Frank Paterson General Manager of BR’s Eastern Region doesn’t believe the customer is interested in faster speeds, for him it the importance of electrification is to improve reliability. An Inter-City Advanced Passenger Train (APT) speeds a long a track changes to a design for the BR Class 89 locomotive which will run along the electrified east coastline. A map of the East Coast Main Line Electrification and labels showing electrification plans between Peterborough and London. On the same map Newcastle with electrification planned to be completed by May 1991. A clip from a French railway film about the hugely successful high-speed TGV intercity rail service, Ian Breach explains in voiceover this is an example of how to spend public money wisely on a railway network. In his office Hugues de Villeles from French Railway explains its success is due to everyone in the French government working together and how much profit the TGV is making for the country. A Paris Metro train crosses the river Seine passing in front of the Eiffel Tower, returning to Hugues de Villeles he explains that French public transport is more interested in bringing benefits to the community rather than party politics and balance sheets. As Hugues de Villeles talks about the French public transport system local commuter trains come and going form a Parisian railway station. In his office Frank Paterson explains the Britan has a different railway network to France and do things differently, he believes the new electrified system will be good value for money and reiterates his point that passengers aren’t as interested in speed as they are with reliability. A ‘Non-Stop Clipper’ coach between Newcastle and London pulls up to a bus stop on Pilgrims Street in Newcastle. Passengers begin to board including Ian Breach. As the bus cross the Tyne Bridge into Gateshead, he talks about the changes that have taken place in coach travel since de-regulation in 1980. Passengers on board relax in their seats and the coach makes its way south along a motorway. A copy of the 1984 White Paper on Buses which looks to de-regulate local bus services. As David Howard Director General of Tyne and Wear PTE provides details on the white paper the Non-Stop Clipper service pulls out of a petrol station. Buses parked inside and out of the depot for private bus company OK Motor Services in Durham. At his desk the director of the company Charles Marshall believes bus de-regulation will cause chaos for the travelling public especially for those living in rural areas where routes that aren’t profitable will be given up. As buses at his depot begin to depart Charles Marshall explains that he believes the while paper is an overreaction by the government with regard subsidies being paid to bus companies and haven’t taken into account the disastrous consequences that will potentially take place. Back in his office David Howard talks about those services which won’t be covered by the open market and will need to be subsidised by the local authority in order to run. As he explains why he is also critical of the white papers not mentioning railways, from the drivers cab a Tyne and Wear Metro car crosses the Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge. A Tyne and Wear PTE bus departs a bus stop in the rain while at a Tyne and Wear Metro station a train arrive with passengers getting on and off. Charles Marshall explains that should de-regulation go ahead because competition between operators will be so intense the idea of ‘informal measures of co-operation’ as outlined in the white paper would not be possible. He gives as an example through-ticketing which allows passengers to use the same ticket on multiple operators, this would have to cease. David Howard believes the passenger will suffer because of these changes and that public transport will become much narrower in the future. A driver at the controls of a Tyne and Wear Metro train coming into Heworth interchange. The train comes to a stop and passengers disembark. In voiceover Ian Breach talks about some of the consequences of de-regulation for passengers with an inevitable rise in ticket prices and cut in services. David Howard doesn’t believe the market should be the judge of what is required as he believes the urban travellers is different from those traveling intercity coach routes. He askes are we going to be left with a decent urban transport system? A cobble fishing boats moored in the River Wear near Sunderland, in the distance a diesel passenger train crosses the Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge. Title: End of Part One Part Two A car drives along a road passing a road sign for County Durham. Standing nearby on a road beneath a railway bridge on the Newcastle to Middlesbrough line Ian Breach explains that at this county boundary point the cost for this loss-making route transfers from BR to the Tyne and Wear PTE, a million and a quarter pounds a year. As passenger train passes along the line over the bridge Ian explains that plans to break up metropolitan borough councils means that this cost may need to be picked up by BR instead. A passenger train crosses the Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge out of Sunderland, next to it the Wearmouth Bridge with cars passing in and out of the city. Still overlooking the High-Level bridge James Abbott believes government plans as to what will happen to public transport when metropolitan borough councils are broken up aren’t clear, and that Sunderland may decide to give up paying towards the Tyne and Wear Metro system as they currently don’t gey any benefit from it, He goes onto explain that if this happens then the PTE may give up paying for the rail service which currently connects the city with Newcastle. As he talks another diesel passenger train travels across the High-Level Bridge towards Gateshead. In his office Frank Paterson explains that without financial support he would need to look at closing the line like what has already happened in West Yorkshire between Huddersfield and Penistone. He explains that it is the local authority who needs to determine the social need. A diesel passenger train on the Newcastle to Middlesbrough line passes over a bridge and the colliery at Seaham, in voiceover Ian Breach explains the line could also be closed due to the consequences of the current Miners’ Strike as it is also used to transport coal from three collieries along its route. As the Hall Dene railway crossing the barriers are lowered as the passenger train approaches, in voiceover Ian Breach explains that plans are currently being looked at by British Steel to move its transportation from rail to road haulage. On board the train a conductor-guard collect fare from passengers and issue tickets. Outside Sunderland railway station cars and taxi’s, a sign in the entrance window states the station is an ‘Open Station’ meaning it has no station staff. As a passenger train speeds along the line between Newcastle and Carlisle, James Abbott explains in voiceover that BR have not been sure what to do with regional lines like these and weren’t willing to invent in them if services could be cut. However, the government have reaffirmed their commitment to the network and the building of new rollingstock. A sign outside Dunston station near Gateshead with regards its re-opening on Monday 1st October 1984. As men work to build the platform a passenger train on the Newcastle to Carlisle route passes. At Haltwhistle station a United bus for Alston is parked across the road, in voiceover Ian Breach explains that it can take as long to get home from Newcastle as it would to London. Back in his office Frank Paterson sees a good future for the railways and believes that 95% of services running today will be running in 10 years’ time. However, he has concerns for the future of buses if de-regulation takes place. David Howard believes that urban railway systems such as the Tyne and Wear Metro is deserving of public support. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach holds a discussion on the subjects discussed in the report with William Rodgers Vice President of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and former Transport Minister, Harry Cowans Labour MP for Tyne Bridge and Chairman of the Parliamentary Transport Committee and Conal Gregory Conservative MP for York. Ian Breach brings both the discussion and programme to a close looking forward to a future edition later in the year on the controversial career of Sid Weighell former General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen and next weeks edition on the power industry and a filmed report to commemorate Charles Parsons founder of one of the Northeast’s most famous companies. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Film Camera Fred Crone Sound Ed Gray Editor Charles Slater Research Ian Krause Political Editor John Sleight Director Bernard Preston Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIV