PROPOSALS aimed at improving rail links throughout the region are due to be unveiled on Tuesday.

The plans include a number of new stations in Teesside and more frequent and faster services.

Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit will detail the plans, which include a new Tees-Tyne Express and Durham Coast Express services, at a press conference at the Darlington Railway Museum.

They have been drawn up by a study group including the unit, Railtrack and Northern Spirit.

A bid for cash for the project is being submitted under the new Rail Passenger Partnership funding scheme.

Dave Walsh, the unit's chairman, said work would begin developing the routes "fairly imminently".

He said new stations were being considered for the Ings in Redcar, South Cleveland Hospital, Hart Village, near Hartlepool, Billingham and the northern suburbs of Stockton.

All would be on existing lines, he said.

"We are looking at developing them as key stations for new housing developments," he said.

Lines would be upgraded to accommodate faster services.

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