MPs take Leamside line debate to Parliament to push forward with ambitious proposals

The 21-mile rail stretch, which runs from Gateshead, through South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham, closed in 1992, but for the last several years, suggestions about restoring the mothballed rail links has resurfaced.  

According to MPs in the North East that want to re-open the route, Leamside runs through numerous areas where new jobs and housing could produce new stations, as well as taking hundreds of cars each day off some the region’s main commuter roads.

Read more: The County Durham locations that would be served by the Leamside line

It’s also been suggested that it would return passenger rail to several ‘left-behind areas’, like Ferryhill in County Durham, which has a high car dependency but low car ownership.

In a debate secured by Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, regarding the potential merits for re-opening the Leamside Line, North East MPs made the case to the Rail Minister, Wendy Morton MP, this afternoon.

Paul Howell, Conservative MP for Sedgefield, who is a key campaigner of the Leamside Line’s reopening, was joined by Kevan Jones (North Durham), Richard Holden (North West Durham), Mary Foy (City of Durham) and Peter Gibson (Darlington) in giving his insight into the topic of Leamside.

The Leamside line has been closed since 1992 - but new discussions suggest that communities in Ferryhill, Washington and Gateshead could be reconnected.

The discussion on returning the long-forgotten rail line comes after North East Joint Transport Committee are moving forward with plans to reopen the line, including a recent announcement that work is to begin on a business case for extending the Tyne and Wear Metro, using the northern part of the Leamside Line, to Washington.

Future work will also include studies into passenger services through County Durham to Ferryhill station, and the use of the line for freight. 

Funding needs to be secured for further phases, which MPs have directly asked the Rail Minister for today.

Read more: Ferryhill could become "vital asset" to Leamside line, according to local councillor

However, she wouldn’t be drawn on whether Leamside could be involved in future government funding, but did confirm that it could be delivered under a city deal.

It’s estimated that the project would cost a total of £600m; a relative “drop in the ocean” compared to the £80bn to deliver HS2, according to supporting MPs.

A map of where the Leamside line will run to and from if it returns. Picture: GOOGLE.

The North East sent a unified message at Parliament today: re-open the Leamside Line.

Despite the ‘united front’ on reopening the Leamside line, several discussions in the parliamentary chamber did spill over – including discussions about Ms Foy claiming that people in the North East were treated like “second class citizens” when it comes to funding and infrastructure.

The chair of the meeting, Philip Hollobone, also had to interject in the meeting several times – calling some exchanges between Mr Jones and Mr Holden  “petty” and “off topic”.

Read more: Fresh Leamside Line hopes for County Durham communities

Taking to today’s discussion, Mr Howell said: “I want to see commitment to invest in the full reopening of the Leamside Line which would greatly benefit communities such as Ferryhill.

“Better access to jobs and education will change the lives of local people as well as take many more people out of their cars and onto more sustainable methods of public transport. I’m pleased to be working together with Sharon Hodgson MP to make our continued case for the line’s reopening to ministers today.”

Ms Hodgson added: “Investment in the Leamside Line would tick every box in the levelling up agenda, showing that the prosperity and connectivity of people in the North East matter.

Mary Foy, Peter Gibson, Paul Howell and Richard Holden were just four of the North East MPs that took part in today's Leamside discussion.

"This would go some way to addressing the disparity between the amount per head spent on transport funding in the North East compared to other areas of the country – it’s gone on for long enough.

“The Leamside Line is a vital connection for our region that would help to address capacity constraints on the East Coast Main Line and provide enhanced local connections to opportunities for employment and education. Extending the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington is just one of the many benefits Leamside would bring to the North East and we are pleased to highlight once again today the unified position of both North East politicians, business leaders and indeed the wider community.”

Paul Howell MP, Sharon Hodgson MP and director of North East Transport, Tobyn Hughes, meet with the Rail Minister earlier today. Picture: PAUL HOWELL.

Mr Hughes said: “Thanks to the support of our regional MPs we had a welcome discussion with the new Rail Minister today on the strategic importance of the Leamside Line.

"Locally through the North East Joint Transport Committee there are a number of active projects which support the line’s reopening, including the development of a new business case to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington and an overarching plan that brings together the benefits of the numerous pieces of work that are ongoing.

"The Leamside Line remains one of our region’s main strategic priorities to improve transport and I hope that Ministers will see the many benefits that scheme delivery would bring to local people.”

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