Transport bosses aim to keep plan on track
Transport bosses in the North East are exploring options which could bring rail services to Washington following the Government ruling out investing in the project.
The Government shunned plans to use the Leamside line, which runs from Ferryhill in Durham, through Washington, to Pelaw, as a way of adding extra capacity to the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
On Monday, the North East Joint Transport Committee is set to discuss what options are left open to them.
A new report outlines a series of steps the region will action to continue to improve capacity of the ECML in the North East and to take steps to reopen the Leamside Line using Metro and local services.
Committee chairman Cllr Martin Gannon, has called the decision a ‘hammer-blow’ for the region.
He said: “Sadly the Integrated Rail Plan was a huge missed opportunity for the Government to invest in the North East.
"The plan doesn’t outline the long-overdue investment we urgently need in the North East to boost capacity on the East Coast Main Line and it has effectively ruled out investment in the Leamside Line.
"Nevertheless, the strategic case for the Leamside Line remains strong and this critically important project for the region is still high on our agenda.”
He added: “Work is well under way on the development of an umbrella business case for the route to be used for Metro and local rail services alongside engineering and demand forecasting workontheSouthofTyneand Wearside loop."
The £60million plan would have seen the line restored between County Durham and Pelaw to allow local train services to return to places such as Washington for the first time in decades, while also paving the way for a major extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro and increased rail freight capacity.
Cllr Gannon added: "If the Government won’t provide the commitment through the IRP to deliver the connectivity we urgently need our region will roll up its sleeves and get the job done.
“The North East wants and deserves so much better and we will be making the case for Government to give us devolved transport funding, so we can make our long-term aspirations around the Leamside Line a reality.”