DISCUSSIONS about resurrecting a ‘mothballed’ rail route in the North East are expected to take place in the new year after fresh hopes of returning the train network to its ‘former glory’ have been tabled.

The Leamside Line hasn’t been in operation across parts of County Durham since the 1960s, with communities like Ferryhill effectively ‘cut off’ from the East Coast Main Line, which travels from Newcastle to Darlington and connects to other major towns and cities across the North of England.

Despite the key route sitting ‘derelict’ for the 60 years that’s followed, discussions about how to move forward with the Leamside Line have resurfaced during the last number of years.

Read more: Faint hopes of reopening the Leamside Line remain in County Durham

Several County Durham MPs, including Sedgefield representative, Paul Howell, and North Durham MP, Kevan Jones, have pushed for the rail line to be brought back into existence in recent times.

Hopes of reinstating the previously forgotten transport network were made last month, just before Prime Minister Boris Johnson released his Integrated Rail Plan, which he claimed would “open up the North of England for business and leisure”.

However, when it came to releasing the list of successful projects – the Leamside line was snubbed by the government; a decision that was met by anger from MPs, transport groups and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

The Northern Echo: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the government snubbed the Leamside Line last month as part of the Integrated Rail Plan.Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the government snubbed the Leamside Line last month as part of the Integrated Rail Plan.

With discussions dropping off for the last six weeks since the high-profile snub for Leamside, prospective hope has been handed to those that live in communities with ‘limited’ public transport links after Transport North East confirmed yesterday that it would be looking to discuss the future of the rail line.

Revealing the news yesterday, the transport group said that even though the government wasn’t going to move forward with the plans for the historic travel route, it could become part of a ‘city region settlement deal’.

From there, it is hoped the restoration of the route would pave the way for an extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington and even Durham City, and boost transport links in South Tyneside.  

The Northern Echo: Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield (centre), has campaigned to reinstate the historic rail route for years.Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield (centre), has campaigned to reinstate the historic rail route for years.

According to Transport North East, a new report, set to be discussed into 2022, will outline a series of steps the region will take to continue to improve capacity of the main line in the North East and to take steps to reopen the Leamside Line using Metro and local rail services.

Cllr Martin Gannon, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee previously outlined major disappointment in the government’s Integrated Rail Plan, calling it a ‘hammer-blow’ for the region.

The reinstatement of the Leamside Line, which would enable the region’s future capacity needs to be met between Northallerton and Newcastle, is now not being taken forward by central government, with ministers suggesting it ‘would be best considered as part of any future city region settlement’.

The Northern Echo: Cllr Martin Gannon, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, at the Leamside Line.Cllr Martin Gannon, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, at the Leamside Line.

Speaking about the potential of bringing the Leamside Line back, Cllr Gannon 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.”

The Northern Echo: The rail link, which hasn't been used since the 1960s, could be moved forward as part of a future 'city region settlement'.The rail link, which hasn't been used since the 1960s, could be moved forward as part of a future 'city region settlement'.

Cllr Gannon has also urged other transport groups and “people in politics” to deliver public transport that “the North East deserves.

He added: “Work is well underway 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 work on the South of Tyne and Wearside loop. 

“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 take it from here to make our long-term aspirations around the Leamside Line a reality.”

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