PRESSURE was growing on the Government last night to change its mind over funding the reopening of a mothballed railway route.

The Leamside rail corridor, from Pelaw, near Gateshead, to Tursdale, County Durham, has been described as the missing link in the region's transport network, which could boost the local economy if reopened.

However, the Government is thought to be reluctant to fund such a project, which could also include upgrading the Stillington branch line, linking Ferryhill and Stockton, at a total cost of up to £80m.

On Thursday, members of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority endorsed a study that showed the route could carry passenger and freight traffic between Tyneside and the Tees Valley.

Its chairman, Councillor David Wood, said: "The Leamside line is a neglected asset for the whole region - the missing link offering a new, faster rail route between Tyne, Wear and Tees that would boost the whole economy.

It would provide rail access to Washington and the former coalfield area of Sunderland.

"A major benefit could also be a new parkand- ride station at Belmont, near Durham, ideally placed to take traffic off the A1.

"We have to be a forward-looking region with practical solutions to make our transport network better - and a number of organisations and local MPs are trying to make this happen."

The study said the benefits of reopening the corridor would include relieving conges- By Stuart Arnold stuart.arnold@nne.co.uk tion on the East Coast Main Line, providing "substantial" economic benefits to employers along the route and unlocking the potential of adjacent development sites.

The Northern Echo understands that the partners in the project, including local councils, are looking to make savings and reduce the total bill.

Adrian White, head of transport and design at Durham County Council, said: "It is a route that has the potential not only to ease the pressure on the region's roads and existing railways, but to make it easier for people in the county to access jobs.

"However, the Government has made it quite plain that it is not in the business of providing the funding needed to reopen the line so while we welcome the study, it is just a small step along a very lengthy and difficult road. We are still a long way off seeing this come to fruition but we will work with our partners to try to change the Government's views on funding the reinstatement of the line."