A deal committing the Government to help reopen a mothballed North East railway line has been signed on Thursday, 22 January.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness and transport secretary Heidi Alexander met at Newcastle’s Central Station early on Thursday morning to pen an agreement on the future of the Leamside Line, after the project was backed in the Government’s landmark Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) announcement last week.
Funding has already been pledged for a first phase of reopening of the route, which runs through Gateshead, Sunderland, and County Durham, in order to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington.
But a full restoration of the line, which was closed to passenger services in the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, for its entire length could bring new train stations to communities like Penshaw, Fencehouses, West Rainton, Belmont, and Shincliffe, as well as paving the way for new Tyne-Tees services.
Ministers have committed to work with leaders on the case to reopen the Leamside Line in full as part of the wider NPR project, which will start with upgrades to rail lines in Yorkshire before the later development of routes between Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds.
The Government has further promised to ensure funding is available to deliver the upgrade, long seen as the most important piece of infrastructure for the future of the North East, but only if it can be proven to deliver “good value for money”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week that the Leamside Line was “really important” and vowed to help ensure the case for its restoration stacks up financially.
Ms Alexander said on Thursday: “Today, I’ve strengthened this Government’s clear and unwavering commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail by signing an agreement with Mayor McGuinness on the next steps for transforming connectivity in the North East.
“Alongside our existing investment which is supporting Mayor McGuinness to extend the Metro to Washington, we are committed to progressing the business case for the reopening of the Leamside Line, including considering better connectivity for Sunderland. NPR trains will also connect to Newcastle via Darlington and Durham - ensuring the North East benefits from more regular and reliable services. By working with local leaders on exploring future improvements, we’re giving the region the support it needs to unlock the full economic and social benefits for its people.
“Together, we are getting on with the job to deliver the modern transport network the North has deserved for so long.”
The multibillion-pound package of NPR improvements is expected to be delivered through the 2030s, with an initial £1.1 billion having been set aside for design and preparatory works.
Ms McGuinness added: “I am thrilled to welcome Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander to the North East today where we signed an agreement to work together to bring a new rail line to County Durham.
“Last week we saw the launch of a new growth plan for the North – critically for our region, that includes Government backing our plans for the Leamside Line which is a once in a generation project for North East England.
“For the first time in decades, the new line will give communities a rail link which will be transformational for local people – in the same way the Northumberland Line has been for South East Northumberland.
“We have bold ambitions for transport, so we are already working to extend the Metro to Washington, this is more good news and a major milestone for the project to bring rail back to our communities.”
