In the summer it was announced that the Metro would be extended with a new loop from South Hylton to Washington and onto Heworth. – News last weeks suggests that work on the new line has come a step closer to being started.
Contractors appointed
It was reported in June that designs for critical infrastructure, including for new railway stations, and bridges are being drawn up, which are needed to finally bring the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington. This was said to be – being done “in order to try and win government support for the £900 million vision”.
It was further noted that Kim McGuinness, the North East Mayor, had pledged to “deliver what would be the first extension of the Metro system for more than 20 years by ‘opening a new route to Washington, one of the largest towns in the country without rail services.’”
Then in late November, it was reported – that the proposed extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro line to include Washington, moved a step closer on 28 November following the appointment of a new contractor to look at the reopening of the Leamside Line. This extension would mean that Washington is connected to the rail network. At present Washington is the fourth biggest town in the country, not to be served by a railway station of any kind.
It was noted that “as well as being used by the Tyne & Wear Metro network, the reopening of the line would enable Washington to reconnect with the wider rail network”.
It was also said that The North East Combined Authority (NECA) had – confirmed on 28 November that AECOM would complete a new assessment, examining the benefits and feasibility of reopening the line. It was said that it “will include detailed technical work on a new investment corridor which will identify growth opportunities for jobs and housing along a reopened line”.
It was also reported that AECOM is a global infrastructure consultancy firm and alongside the benefits and feasibility and of reopening the line, they will also look undertake detailed technical work on new investment which will identify growth opportunities for jobs and housing along a reopened line.
Tobyn Hughes of NECA
Tobyn Hughes, North East Combined Authority Director of Transport, commented: “Reopening the Leamside Line is essential not just for the North East but the whole country.
“It will transform transport connections for many local communities, as well as hugely expanding rail capacity on the adjacent and congested East Coast Main Line.
“We welcome the appointment of AECOM to two commissions. The first of these is already underway and considers the technical aspects of reopening this strategically located route.
“A second commission will now look at the role the railway will play in unlocking new jobs and housing by developing a comprehensive high level Economic Growth Strategy and Spatial Plan for the Leamside Investment Corridor.
“The Leamside Line is hugely important for the future of North East England and transformative for transport in our region and beyond.
North East Public Transport Users’ Group
Vicki Gilbert, Chair of the North East Public Transport Users Group, responded “It’s obviously exciting news that the reopening of the Leamside Line has taken another step closer, and it is particularly important that planning is moving on for the heavy rail use to Ferryhill as well as the Metro to Washington. The project will transfrom the lives of people in Washington, one of the biggest towns in the country with no rail connection, but also the communities of County Durham who are suffering from transport poverty. We hope that the design and appraisal process takes into account the importance of the new integrated transport system proposed by our Mayor, with local buses and cycle infrastructure connecting with train and Metro services on the new line.”
“As Tobyn Hughes points out, the reopening of the Leamside will reintroduce much-needed capacity on our regional rail network, allowing local services and increased freight to run without impacting the East Coast Main Line. It will also provide vital resilience for our rail system, bringing back a valuable diversionary route for when problems arise. We urge AECOM to take the voice of transport users into account as they carry out their commissions.”
Comment
This is another major step forward in addressing the imbalance between north and south in terms of transport provision, which has existed for so long now. However, it must not be the end of such improvements for another 20 or 30 years. We have recently seen that further extensions to the Metro system have been suggested, and it can only be hoped that now there will be a rolling programme of such improvements, along with other public transport links and the development at long last of high speed rail from Newcastle to Liverpool.
Our economy in the North needs such improvements as do our people. – Any money spent on sensible extensions and improvements would be a wise investment.
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