Backing for extension to Metro services
North East leaders are urging ministers to back a major expansion of the Metro that could bring trains to Newcastle’s West End, the Metrocentre, and Washington.
The region is preparing to make its case to the Government for a significant widening of the Metro network into under-served communities, plus a raft of other new rail services linking to Northumberland and County Durham.
In response to a Department for Transport (DfT) call for evidence on potential new light rail links across England’s towns and cities, the North East will call for the money and powers to expand the reach of its train service.
A £362million fleet of new Metro trains should start arriving in 2021, and any expansion of the network would require an enormous investment from the Government.
The Sunderland section of the network could be expanded out to Washington and also south to Seaham and Doxford Park.
Further rail improvements could involve re-opening a line connecting Ashington and Blyth to Newcastle city centre — a key aim of the new North of Tyne Combined Authority — and re-opening the Leamside line, which links Ferryhill in County Durham to Washington and Pelaw.
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, has also expressed her support.
She said: “Residents of Washington have been calling for a Metro link for many years now.
“Yet, despite our passion and determination, proposals are yet to be actioned.
“This has left many of my constituents feeling that Washington is being left behind, with poor transport infrastructure.
“Some have hailed expansion as ambitious, but I firmly believe that an expansion to Washington New Town is viable and well overdue. “
A Nexus spokesman said: “We remain committed to expanding the Tyne and Wear Metro system in the future and look forward to working with our local authority partners to achieve that.
“Any network extension on Metro would require a detailed business case to be submitted and a substantial funding commitment from the Government.”