PLANS to re-open the Guisborough railway line, reintroduce passenger services on a Cleveland-County Durham-Tyneside freight line and create a Cleveland light rail network were endorsed in a Government Office report this week.

The Government Office for the North-East published a regional planning guidance strategy, which also included suggestions for a new River Tees crossing at South Bank and support for a freight park near Teesport.

The report was welcomed by Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Coun David Walsh, who is a leading campaigner for better public transport. He said it endorsed key parts of his council's strategy for transport and investment.

"I'm particularly pleased this report endorses the need to investigate and draw up plans for a light rail system, which I believe could easily be applied to the existing rail network to Saltburn, Redcar and Nunthorpe.

"More excitingly, it explicitly endorses the concept of re-opening the old line to Guisborough and onward to East Cleveland. If run on similar lines to the Tyneside Metro, this could cut down commuter traffic quickly.

"All these proposals have long been argued for by our borough. We believe a lower River Tees crossing would relieve pressure on the A19 and open up large areas of old industrial land for new development."

This week's report contrasted with last week's announcement by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling. He gave the go-ahead for new roads south-west of Stockton to Preston Farm Industrial Estate and Ingleby Barwick.

"The report also reflects the investment going into Teesport - the second largest port by volume in the UK - and the need to develop multi-modal freight handling facilities in the area. These developments are now under way by the A66.