Leamside Line
Leamside Line
The Leamside line is only viable to Washington, the trackbed south of Shincliffe has past it's best due to mining making the track bed collapse. It would cost millions to even have it to a standard for "heavy rail" for the likes of it's former ECML years. Shuttles between Nissan and Tyne dock would be good but with Pelaw - Sunderland already cramped with Light and Heavy rail mixing, fitting regular paths in will be difficult.
Having the Metro run to Penshaw then connect Penshaw - South Hylton you've got good feasible competition for the buses. The whole line would need new signalling and the track needed replaced anyway as sleepers, rails, pandrol clips etc all need replaced at sometime and Leamside's was past it's sell by date.
From plans I read the Durham Coast is to become a diversion line for NCL - NTR for freight to relieve an already packed section between them 2 points. Seems good since Durham Coast path wise is quiet.
