Government urged to back Metro plan

A Wearside MP has written to new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, urging him to support plans to extend the Metro.

Washington and Sunderland West Sharon Hodgson has campaigned to use the old Leamside Line to extend the system to Washington.

Now she is calling on the Secretary of State to back the North East Combined Authority (NECA)’s support for extending the Metro.

“It was very welcome when last week news broke that the North East Combined Authority was considering Metro extension plans, including into Washington, and that this has now been fully backed at a full meeting of the Combined Authority this week,” she said.

“My constituents have made their voice clear that they want to see the Metro extended into Washington and time and time again, I have raised this.”