FIREWORKS, flags and streamers inside Middlesbrough Train Station at 6am might not be the order of every day, but this morning, it perfectly highlighted the excitement for a new direct train service from Middlesbrough to London.

The announcement today that a daily timetabled service both North and South bound to the capital was welcome news for many in the North East, with some calling it a “Rail Revolution” that will help benefit many people from Teeside.

As part of the new service, it will be the first time that a direct route to London from Middlesbrough will have been seen since the 1990s – and will also be a positive for nearby Thornaby, which will have a calling stop on the train journey, alongside York.

Read more: WATCH: The first people board direct Middlesbrough to London train

John Donaghue, engineering director for LNER, said: “This investment in direct services is just the start and we want to keep extending this journey.

“We’ve wanted to launch it for a number of years, but the pandemic, like with most things, has got in the way. We’re excited to finally offer passengers more options in the North East and hope to continue to offer a high level of service we pride ourselves on.”

Now that the rail route is launched, users of the train will be able to access Northbound services from London at 3.25pm each weekday, which will stop at York and arrive in Thornaby at 6.08pm and Middlesbrough at 6.18pm.

Here's what John Doughty, engineering director for LNER, had to say this morning at Middlesbrough Station:

To mark today’s announcement, the maiden journey to London was made by hundreds of passengers at 7.08am this morning from Middlesbrough, with the rail users arriving in the capital at 10.22am.  

In the aftermath of the journey, many passengers have hailed the news as a “massive relief” for future train journeys, while politicians from the North East and nationally have praised the importance of today in ‘Levelling Up’ the North East.

One passenger on the journey, Simon Poole, said: “Thank you LNER for a wonderful ride from Middlesbrough to London Kings Cross. A memorable trip indeed, all the best with your new daily service.”

However, not everyone was impressed with today's announcement, with some criticising the fact that only one train per day was going to be travelling between Middlesbrough and London. 

One social media voiced their concern on Twitter by saying: What is the point of one train each way per day? Why not just provide an excellent frequent shuttle from stations in the Middlesbrough area to Northallerton and Darlington?

"It could be all planned to create a regular interval integrated timetable - just like they do in Austria and Switzerland."

Watch: LNER'S Azuma train pulls into Middlesbrough Train Station this morning at 7.08am: 

Meanwhile, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, took to social media to highlight Middlesbrough to London as one of the projects that’s benefitted from the £96bn Levelling Up and transport fund introduced by the Government.

He said: “Great news for the North East! From today, Teesside will benefit from a direct LNER service between Middlesbrough and London for the first time in over decades.

“We're acting on our £96bn pledge to invest in our railways and level up the nation.”

Passengers on the train were welcomed to both Middlesbrough and London King's Cross by a band this morning: 

In a local capacity, Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, has cited today’s news as “a long time coming,” but has pledged to “fight for the North East” when it comes to improved trains and more efficiency on public transport.

He said: “I am delighted that, after nine years of campaigning since I was first elected, this new direct link from Middlesbrough to London is finally here.

“It is hugely welcome and a positive step towards much needed improved rail connectivity for the area. Being able to travel to Parliament from my hometown will make for a far more convenient commute and I am sure local travellers, both business and pleasure, will benefit from this new service.”

Here's some of the images from LNER's launch event at Middlesbrough Station this morning:

The Northern Echo: Sparklers were let off to welcome the maiden train to London this morning. Photo: LNER.Sparklers were let off to welcome the maiden train to London this morning. Photo: LNER.

The Northern Echo: John Donaghue, engineering director for LNER.John Donaghue, engineering director for LNER.

The Northern Echo: David Horne, managing director of LNER, speaks at a launch event in Middlesbrough this morning.David Horne, managing director of LNER, speaks at a launch event in Middlesbrough this morning.

This most recent news about rail links comes days after it was announced that Newton Aycliffe had been selected to build 54 HS2 trains – in a deal that would be worth £2bn and bring 2,500 jobs to the UK.

Matt Rice, north and east route director for Network Rail, said: “It’s so pleasing to have worked alongside LNER to deliver the people of Middlesbrough their eagerly-awaited direct service to London.

“This isn’t the end of the upgrades for Middlesbrough or the Tees Valley region, and we’ll continue working with industry partners and stakeholders in delivering those as quickly as possible.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054