Latest news with #LeamsideLine
BBC News
08-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Washington locals react to Tyne and Wear Metro extension
As the prospect of Tyne and Wear Metro trains cutting through Washington takes a significant step forward, those on its doorstep are cautiously optimistic about political promises becoming a rail East Mayor Kim McGuinness recently announced funding to repurpose part of the mothballed Leamside Line into an extension to the Metro. The bill? About £ up from Pelaw in Gateshead to South Hylton in Sunderland, Metro trains could one day be making their way past Follingsby Park and into two yet unplaced stations provisionally known as Washington North and South, creating the "Washington Loop". "It'll be a good thing... if it happens," Graham Horn tells me at his home on Barmston Close, overlooking a former railway bridge now overcome with vegetation but which could be put back to use by has lived in the town for 63 years and proudly says he is a "Washington man".He remembers the closure of the Leamside Line in 1964 which, by that point, was "only really coal trains and the odd train before the line was closed down". Elsewhere on the street, and in the shadow of the old line, Laura Patton has lived here for 22 admits she is not put off by the thought of trains once again passing her home."It's a good thing because there's a lot of people missed having the Metro come through Washington," she said."It'll get used a lot."Another resident tells me she hopes it is a "great success", but seems hesitant to show much excitement, adding: "They've talked about it for a long time but nothing has ever happened. Hopefully it will this time." About 1.6 miles (2.5km) away, the WWT Washington Wetland is home to 57 flamingos, two otters named Buster and Musa and a whole host of other animals. But visitors are having to use two or three buses to get there, unless they is worse for some volunteers who travel from as far as north Newcastle. Gill Pipes, who runs the charity-operated reserve which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, said of the extension: "It really is essential."Washington is a huge town, one of the biggest in the UK, and to not have a rail network or Metro, it's quite prohibitive."The fact that people will be able to use the train, and then the Metro, that's going to be amazing." Sunderland Conservatives previously raised concern over the "high cost" to extend the Metro comparing it with the lower cost of £298m to reopen the Northumberland line to Labour's McGuinness said the investment had been secured after talks with Chancellor Rachel are now under way to determine how the new Metro route will work in practice, alongside design work for the three new stations, bridges and numerous additional infrastructure. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Metro line feasibility study under way
Designs for new Metro stations and bridges are set to be drawn up in a bid to win government support for a £900m expansion. The proposed new route to Washington in Sunderland would use part of the disused Leamside line running from Pelaw in Gateshead. Engineering consultants Arup have been appointed to carry out a feasibility study for the project and design work for infrastructure, which is being overseen by Labour's North East Mayor Kim McGuinness. It is hoped their designs will help local leaders when lobbying for the huge amount of public funding that would be needed to actually build the extension. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said full details of where Metro trains would stop in the area, the economic benefits of the eight mile (13km) rail extension and the true cost of the project are expected to be revealed during the development of the outline business case. The Washington Metro Loop represents the first section of a wider ambition to reopen the entire Leamside Line, which runs down through County Durham and could allow for the launch of new Tyne-Tees train services. It was estimated in 2022 that the scheme would cost £745m, but this has since been listed as costing £900m in the mayor's new regional transport plan, which sets a target of delivering the project by 2032. While the restoration has been a top priority for leaders for years, some critics have raised concerns it could be a "vanity project" which it may not be feasible to deliver. However, McGuinness has long stated her determination to deliver on the promise of bringing the Metro to Washington, describing it as a "major part" of her ambition to re-open the Leamside route through County Durham and Sunderland. "I am determined to transform our transport network to change the lives of local people for generations to come," she said. "This project will be the biggest expansion of the Metro for more than 20 years – and it will be just as transformative as the Sunderland line was when it first opened back in 2002." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Government 'working closely' to reopen rail line Which are the possible Leamside Line stations? 'Incredibly high' cost of new Metro line questioned Nexus North East Combined Authority
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Washington Metro line feasibility study under way
Designs for new Metro stations and bridges are set to be drawn up in a bid to win government support for a £900m proposed new route to Washington in Sunderland would use part of the disused Leamside line running from Pelaw in consultants Arup have been appointed to carry out a feasibility study for the project and design work for infrastructure, which is being overseen by Labour's North East Mayor Kim is hoped their designs will help local leaders when lobbying for the huge amount of public funding that would be needed to actually build the extension. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said full details of where Metro trains would stop in the area, the economic benefits of the eight mile (13km) rail extension and the true cost of the project are expected to be revealed during the development of the outline business case. The Washington Metro Loop represents the first section of a wider ambition to reopen the entire Leamside Line, which runs down through County Durham and could allow for the launch of new Tyne-Tees train was estimated in 2022 that the scheme would cost £745m, but this has since been listed as costing £900m in the mayor's new regional transport plan, which sets a target of delivering the project by the restoration has been a top priority for leaders for years, some critics have raised concerns it could be a "vanity project" which it may not be feasible to deliver. However, McGuinness has long stated her determination to deliver on the promise of bringing the Metro to Washington, describing it as a "major part" of her ambition to re-open the Leamside route through County Durham and Sunderland."I am determined to transform our transport network to change the lives of local people for generations to come," she said."This project will be the biggest expansion of the Metro for more than 20 years – and it will be just as transformative as the Sunderland line was when it first opened back in 2002." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
