MULTI-MILLION pound proposals aimed at dramatically improving rail services throughout the North-East were unveiled yesterday.

The plans, which include introducing new stations and offering more frequent and faster services, have been described as "a blueprint for the renaissance of rail" in the region.

They have been put forward by the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit, which represents the interests of local authorities in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington.

The unit has joined forces with Railtrack and regional rail operator Northern Spirit to come up with a raft of proposals aimed at improving the quality of rail services in the North-East.

The proposals include:

l A new hourly Tees-Tyne express service from Middlesbrough to Newcastle, using the existing freight-only Stillington line between Norton and Ferryhill.

l A Durham coast express service using the existing Durham coast line between Newcastle and Middlesbrough and then continuing the route as far as York.

l Building new stations at Billingham, Hart Station and The Ings, at Redcar.

l An hourly "all stops" service between Darlington and Saltburn, improving services to Teesside International Airport.

l Improvements in services between Yarm, Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe and plans for a new station at South Cleveland Hospital.

The estimated cost of the schemes is more than £20m and a bid for cash is being submitted under the new Rail Passenger Partnership funding scheme.

It is hoped that the improvements will lead to an extra 300,000 people using rail services each year. Councillor David Walsh, chairman of the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit, said: "The blueprint document is a very important step forward in achieving the kind of new local and region rail services which the Tees Valley needs for the new century.

"The plan we have put forward is ambitious. However, in our view it is achievable providing the Government is prepared to back its strong statements of support for improving public transport services with hard cash."

Malcom Bowes, the unit's head of strategic planning and transport, said: "By improving the frequency and reliability of rail services, we hope it will encourage people to use them more often."