Plans to restore disused railway lines in County Durham in doubt

Projects funded through the Restoring Your Railway programme have been cast in doubt after the scheme was cancelled on Monday (July 29). 

The new Labour government’s decision is a blow to campaigners and politicians in County Durham and Darlington who have worked extensively to reopen rail links and boost local connectivity. 

Bids to reopen Ferryhill Station, renew rail links between Consett and Newcastle, and create a passenger rail service from Darlington to Weardale, County Durham, were all backed by the previous Conservative government. 

Cllr Joe Makepeace hands over a petition to former Sedgefield MP Paul Howell to reopen Ferryhill Railway Station (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The £500 million scheme to reconnect communities was hailed as a game changer for County Durham.

While some projects were more advanced than others, all three received cross-party local political support and cost thousands of pounds to submit. 

Plans to create a passenger rail service running from Darlington to Weardale were submitted to the government in September 2022. (Image: Durham County Council)

However, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced a review of the government’s transport infrastructure spending on Tuesday (July 30). 

“Communities up and down the country have been given hope for new transport infrastructure, with no plans or funds to deliver them,” she said. 

The Labour MP warned of £2.9 billion unfunded transport commitments that had been left by the Tories. The announcement came after the Chancellor pledged to scrap the scheme on Monday.

Ms Haigh added: “In recent weeks, the gap between promised schemes and the money available to deliver them has been made clear to me. There has been a lack of openness with the public about the status of schemes – some of which were cancelled or paused by the previous government, without proper communication to the public.

“We will bring in external expertise and move quickly to make recommendations about current and future schemes.”

Durham County Council said it hopes the three projects will continue.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “The Chancellor’s announcement on the future of the Restoring Your Railway Fund was disappointing, but it’s too early for us to fully understand the implications. 

“Reopening Ferryhill Station and the Leamside Line would vastly improve connectivity, linking our communities to jobs and opportunities and encouraging sustainable travel.

“It remains an important transport aspiration for County Durham and the wider region, and we will continue to make the case alongside partners for the external funding needed.”

Meanwhile, North East mayor Kim McGuinness announced a £600,000 investment to commission a business case for the southern section of the Leamside Line. 

What are the three rail projects? 

Ferryhill Station

Initial plans suggested Ferryhill station could use the existing Stillington Line, currently only used for freight services, to create a passenger rail service running from Ferryhill to Teesside. The station would also be the first station on a reopened Leamside line. 

In October 2023, Network North announced the new station would be funded subject to full business case approval.

Thousands of residents in Ferryhill, Cornforth, Spennymoor, and Sedgefield would benefit from the improved connectivity, campaigners said. 

Darlington-Weardale 

The proposal focused on the development of the Darlington-Dales corridor, improving the connectivity of towns and villages along the Weardale line, and reviewed the possibility of providing a link to Crook.

Newcastle-Consett

A proposed route for the Consett-Tyne link would also travel through Stanley and Annfield Plain and connect to the East Coast Mainline at Chester-le-Street. Options included laying tracks on disused railway lines now used as popular leisure routes such as the Derwent Walk or the Coast to Coast cycle route through Stanley.