RAIL passengers in the Tees Valley are being given the chance to improve local services.

The Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit, acting on behalf of the councils in the Tees Valley, is undertaking the survey exercise to help gain greater understanding of when, where, how and why people are using the local rail network.

Andy Hyams, head of transportation with the Joint Strategy Unit, said: "Currently we have only limited information about the way our local services are used, basically limited to estimates of the numbers using each station annually and their key destinations.

"This survey should help give us a more detailed and accurate picture. During the week we will carry out counts of passengers, and cycles, on all traces covering stations from Bishop Auckland, Saltburn and Whitby, Hartlepool and Yarm.

"At Darlington we will be gaining further information with a count of people entering and leaving the station over a 24-hour period and the numbers boarding and alighting from each train.

"We want to assure passengers the survey will not disrupt their journeys, but we hope as many as possible will contribute through competing the questionnaires because, the better the quality of information the more it should help improve local services and stations."