I think it's been established in past threads that I - very unreasonably, apparently - believe that it would be beneficial for Britain to attempt some regional (and, by extension, national) regeneration by overhauling regional airports and encouraging businessmen - seemingly the sole driver for the development of HS2 - to catch aircraft to locations nearer to their final destination instead.
However, the degree to which regional airports - and rail - have been allowed to atrophy is possibly best underlined by some new stats to do with rail station use. It seems that there are only 32 arrivals/departures per year (yep - per year!) at Teesside Airport station - equidistant between Darlington and Middlesbrough/Stockton.
Now, I know it's not much more than an airfield in actuality (see parallel thread), but surely this state of affairs underlines the need to invest in regional air travel and its (associated) infrastructure as a stepping stone towards further localised business regeneration?
However, the degree to which regional airports - and rail - have been allowed to atrophy is possibly best underlined by some new stats to do with rail station use. It seems that there are only 32 arrivals/departures per year (yep - per year!) at Teesside Airport station - equidistant between Darlington and Middlesbrough/Stockton.
Now, I know it's not much more than an airfield in actuality (see parallel thread), but surely this state of affairs underlines the need to invest in regional air travel and its (associated) infrastructure as a stepping stone towards further localised business regeneration?
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