The UK has approved £30m in funds for a metro rail project in the Tees Valley, to connect Darlington with Saltburn.
The plan includes the renovation of the existing rail service.
Under the plan, one station will be built at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital and another in Redcar and Cleveland.
Darlington and Middlesbrough stations will get new platforms and the stations at Eaglescliffe, Thornaby and Hartlepool will be renovated.
The existing Durham Tees Valley Airport station will be relocated.
Further extension of the network to connect Hartlepool and Nunthorpe is also under consideration.
