The North East is to get its long-awaited Metro extension to Washington, though not yet the hoped-for Leamside line taking the Metro as far as Ferryhill in County Durham. There is also £1bn for Tees Valley. News of the Washington extension came today in separate announcements by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of a wider £15bn package of urban transport improvements also benefitting Manchester, West Yorkshire, the East and West Midlands and the West of England.
The £900mn Metro extension, with some of the finance expected from the private sector, should start running in 2033, just over 20 years after the Metro was first extended to Sunderland.
No details of the route and stations were announced today, but previously published plans have shown a loop from Pelaw to South Hylton, with new stations at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South. Work on detailed plans is said to be under way.
McGuinness said:” When I was elected Mayor I promised voters that I would extend the Metro and now, 12 months on, we are making that happen. I am thrilled to say we can now get on with the job of building the first new Metro line for 30 years, at last connecting Washington to the rail network and linking tens of thousands of people to new jobs and opportunity in our growing advanced manufacturing sector.”
The Metro extension is part of a £1.85bn package of transport investment for the North East announced today, forming its so-called City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for 2027-32 (CRSTS2).
The Angel Network
The North East’s full £1.85bn package will enable the Mayor to create what she has dubbed the “Angel Network” of transport services throughout the North East. She said: “This is a game-changing moment for the people of our region, who can look forward to a truly world-class integrated public transport network, safer walking and cycling routes throughout our towns and cities, better local roads and a massive acceleration of our journey to an EV future.”
“I promised to make the North East the home of real opportunity and deliver quality integrated transport that works for all. This funding means we can create the Angel Network with buses under public control, more electric buses running on time along priority corridors, and contactless smart travel whether you are on a bus, a Metro or a train.
“We will improve accessibility and safety for women and girls through upgrades to railway stations, interchanges and bus stops, make walking and cycling routes attractive and build the best electric charging network in the country”
Today’s announcement comes 24 hours after McGuinness announced a £14mn upgrade of bus, rail and Metro stations.
Tees Valley
The £1bn announced for Tees Valley includes £60mn for a platform extension programme at Middlesbrough station. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports the money also means work can accelerate on projects including a new station at Teesside Park and an autonomous tram network to make getting around the region’s towns easier.
Comment
Today’s announcement is almost unalloyed good news for the North East. The only missing element is the rail link from Pelaw to Ferryhill in County Durham, known as the Leamside Line, for which local politicians including McGuinness have campaigned hard. As the CRSTS2 funding announced today is to cover the 2027-32 period, it seems that the Leamside Line will have to wait for several more years yet.
