See I think having all the different parties worked, as different arguments were pushed. It was refreshing to see an anti austerity argument too for once, but I wonder where would the line be drawn?

Respect have the same amount of MPs as the Greens, DUP have about 8, and I think Sinn Fein have about 4? But then you'd be looking at 10 parties involved in a debate...

(02 Apr 2015, 10:33 pm)MrFozz wrote Why was there no Northern Ireland representation???

It is obvious why McGuinness or Adams would not be there in the first place considering the shinners don't recognise Westminsters power in the 6 Counties, but why no DUP

I don't think either the Labour, Conservative or the Lib Dems (or indeed any mainland party) field any candidates in Northern Ireland. Stormont (and the Assembly) is in its own little bubble so to speak and has very little impact anywhere outside of Ulster.

(02 Apr 2015, 9:29 pm)MrFozz wrote Did Big Nige actually present an argument that did not focus on the EU/Immigration/health tourism...

I just think he looked like a 6' knob on 2 legs...

The polls seem to point towards a victory for Nicola Sturgeon...theres something fishy about that woman
Was also on BBC News 24 as well

Am I the only person who thinks Leanne Wood is a bit of a MILF

In agreement about Leanne Wood. A guilty pleasure.

Sky news doing what they did with the Scottish referendum...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MH0K_XIIBow

(03 Apr 2015, 9:35 am)Andreos1 wrote In agreement about Leanne Wood. A guilty pleasure.

That lil welsh accent is nice as well

Seeing as we have discussed other political parties and their policies, does anyone fancy sharing 10 policies that you would have/introduce if Prime Minister.

They can be as wild and fanciful as you want.

Just to start:
* Renationalise train and bus operations as well as utilities I.e Gas, water
* Introduce a higher rate of tax for those earning 60k or more
* Invest in NHS and cut back on privatisation
* Cut back on middle managers and re-invest in admin for nursing stations and front line nursing/doctors/consultants.
* Sort of the defence sector, with investment into resources for both physical and cyber conflict for Navy, Army and RAF.
* Ensure all tax avoidance schemes are closed and big business pay their share of taxes.
* Implement a nationwide scheme, with Government investing and taking a share of promising start ups and established businesses (Dragons Den style).
* Ensure an increasing proportion of MP's (and advisors) have experience in real world, industry and employments - rather than as career politicians.
* Sort out and fix the backlog of asylum/immigration issues
* Set up free trade agreements, ahead of EU pullout.

(07 Apr 2015, 3:24 pm)Andreos1 wrote Seeing as we have discussed other political parties and their policies, does anyone fancy sharing 10 policies that you would have/introduce if Prime Minister.

They can be as wild and fanciful as you want.

Employees: 
* Make the Living Wage compulsory for businesses employing 50 or more employees.
* Absolute ban on zero hour contracts, with it being compulsory for a business to offer workers the opportunity to 'opt-in' to a flexi-time scheme.
* Complete overhaul of the TULRA (1992), to remove restrictions on balloting, industrial action, secondary action, closed shops, what forms a trade dispute, and the threshold to apply for statutory recognition.

Welfare: 
* Axe the bedroom tax. 
* Remove JCP sanction regimes and bring work schemes back in house. 
* Scrap work capability assessments.

Public Services:
* Rail and Bus Operations to be nationalised, and to be ran as public services. 
* Profit from both operations put back into the system to ensure that less profitable and rural routes are properly served.
* Bring every inch of the NHS back into the public sector.

Tax: 
* Reduce VAT to 15% from day one.
* Close all tax loopholes, criminalise tax avoidance, and invest heavily in the HMRC to give them all the tools they need to do their job.

Business:
* Restrict off shoring to 5% of a business
* Prevent any public sector work ever being delivered from off shore locations
* Prevent UK businesses from operating from tax havens

*Anyone using the phrase "I'm a law abiding citizen" (or words to that effect) in pious manner should immediately subject themselves to a life audit and, if found of any subsequent wrongdoing - no matter how small - they shall be punished with life imprisonment!

(07 Apr 2015, 9:57 pm)MurdnunoC wrote *Anyone using the phrase "I'm a law abiding citizen" (or words to that effect) in pious manner should immediately subject themselves to a life audit and, if found of any subsequent wrongdoing - no matter how small - they shall be punished with life imprisonment!

I like that Mr Young...

My sister claims to be a law abiding citizen, despite the fact she has been happy in thr past to enter this country with more than the Customs man says you can...Life for her then under the Young Administration, doing so saves me a lot of hassle

Me on the other hand, I will bend the law at any opportunity I can get away with it

(09 Apr 2015, 6:02 pm)Adam wrote I've just seen the Green Party's Election Broadcast on the BBC, and I must say, it made me laugh. I've even taken the liberty of finding it on YouTube for you all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPgS7p40ERg

Wow that was so bad it was hilarious!

Probably did this so people would know that they exist.

That is horrific like! Thankfully their policies are a lot better.

I'm still torn between them and Labour if I'm honest.

Received a Leaflet in the Post this morning from Sharon Hodgson encouraging us to Vote for Labour on May 7th.

Her Pledges on the back of the Leaflet are:

• Secure the future of our NHS by recruiting 36,000 more frontline staff and repealing the Health and Social Care Act.  
  
• Balance the books fairly and cut the deficit every year, making the economy work for working people.
  
• Build more affordable homes and abolish the Bedroom Tax.
  
• Invest in our Transport Network, including extending the Metro to Washington.
  
• Control immigration with fair rules that benefit local people and businesses.
  

(13 Apr 2015, 12:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Received a Leaflet in the Post this morning from Sharon Hodgson encouraging us to Vote for Labour on May 7th.

Her Pledges on the back of the Leaflet are:

• Secure the future of our NHS by recruiting 36,000 more frontline staff and repealing the Health and Social Care Act.  
  
• Balance the books fairly and cut the deficit every year, making the economy work for working people.
  
• Build more affordable homes and abolish the Bedroom Tax.
  
• Invest in our Transport Network, including extending the Metro to Washington.
  
• Control immigration with fair rules that benefit local people and businesses.
  

There she goes again, the bloody metro, which will never happen... is this the only thing she goes on about? 

(13 Apr 2015, 12:59 pm)Michael wrote There she goes again, the bloody metro, which will never happen... is this the only thing she goes on about? 

According to the Leaflet, forgot to mention this, extending the Metro to Washington isnt her idea so to speak, a Student by the name of Adam Robson set up the Petition, he then went to Sharon Hogdson for support and it has taken off from there.

(13 Apr 2015, 1:09 pm)Malarkey wrote According to the Leaflet, forgot to mention this, extending the Metro to Washington isnt her idea so to speak, a Student by the name of Adam Robson set up the Petition, he then went to Sharon Hogdson for support and it has taken off from there.

Ah right, i kinda remember signing that petition, i know its a good idea to extend the metro but she bangs on about it all the time.

(13 Apr 2015, 1:16 pm)Michael wrote Ah right, i kinda remember signing that petition, i know its a good idea to extend the metro but she bangs on about it all the time.

I personally think it is a Bad Idea and I am probably the only Person on the Forum who thinks this, would be better off tearing up the current system in stages and replacing it with a Bus-Way, probably would of been cheaper than modernising the current system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyne_and_We...velopments plus the cost of building an extension to Washington and purchasing New Trains for the System etc.

(13 Apr 2015, 1:53 pm)Malarkey wrote I personally think it is a Bad Idea and I am probably the only Person on the Forum who thinks this, would be better off tearing up the current system in stages and replacing it with a Bus-Way, probably would of been cheaper than modernising the current system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyne_and_We...velopments plus the cost of building an extension to Washington and purchasing New Trains for the System etc.

What is bad about it mate? I am not from Washington, so I don't the pros and cons of the idea...

What would be the best way to take Metro to Washington...

1. Some kind of Street Running i.e. like Sheffield Trams and Manchester Metrolink

2. An extension of the present line from South Hylton to the Leamside Line, rejoining the Metro system at Pelaw Junction or

3. Fully re-opening The Leamside, with the line being shared at it's Northern End with Network Rail

(13 Apr 2015, 2:08 pm)MrFozz wrote What is bad about it mate? I am not from Washington, so I don't the pros and cons of the idea...

What would be the best way to take Metro to Washington...

1. Some kind of Street Running i.e. like Sheffield Trams and Manchester Metrolink

2. An extension of the present line from South Hylton to the Leamside Line, rejoining the Metro system at Pelaw Junction or

3. Fully re-opening The Leamside, with the line being shared at it's Northern End with Network Rail

The only benefit of re-opening The Leamside Line is for Freight to Nissan from the ECML, Otherwise I see it as a complete waste of Money as the Cost would be huge to extend to Washington, If plans were to go ahead what affect would that have on Local Bus Services in the Area, High Frequency Services such as the X1/2/2A and 4 would likely be reduced incurring a Loss of Service as more people would likely hop on the Metro as it is Quicker than the Bus, it would be an X3 Scenario waiting to happen - Bus vs Metro = Metro Wins, then as a Result what affect does that have on those who work at Go North Easts Washington Depot, On top of that Council Tax etc would rise to therefore cover the costs.

(13 Apr 2015, 2:39 pm)Malarkey wrote The only benefit of re-opening The Leamside Line is for Freight to Nissan from the ECML, Otherwise I see it as a complete waste of Money as the Cost would be huge to extend to Washington, If plans were to go ahead what affect would that have on Local Bus Services in the Area, High Frequency Services such as the X1/2/2A and 4 would likely be reduced incurring a Loss of Service as more people would likely hop on the Metro as it is Quicker than the Bus, it would be an X3 Scenario waiting to happen - Bus vs Metro = Metro Wins, then as a Result what affect does that have on those who work at Go North Easts Washington Depot, On top of that Council Tax etc would rise to therefore cover the costs.

I know this is off-topic really, but what about fully re-opening the Leamside, freight from Port of Tyne and Nissan would benefit and I am sure heard or read somewhere a while back that Washington is one of the catchment areas not connected to the Railway Network, but what about passenger services, use it for

1. Some TPX services
2. Inter-Urban Services(Newcastle-Middlesbrough via Stillington)
3. ECML Diversions

With new Interchange/Parkway stations at Belmont and Washington

Obviously with freight it would clear the ECML and Durham Coast between Newcastle and Teesside/Ferryhill, but that has been talked about for years now, probably since the Leamside was mothballed

(13 Apr 2015, 2:39 pm)Malarkey wrote The only benefit of re-opening The Leamside Line is for Freight to Nissan from the ECML, Otherwise I see it as a complete waste of Money as the Cost would be huge to extend to Washington, If plans were to go ahead what affect would that have on Local Bus Services in the Area, High Frequency Services such as the X1/2/2A and 4 would likely be reduced incurring a Loss of Service as more people would likely hop on the Metro as it is Quicker than the Bus, it would be an X3 Scenario waiting to happen - Bus vs Metro = Metro Wins, then as a Result what affect does that have on those who work at Go North Easts Washington Depot, On top of that Council Tax etc would rise to therefore cover the costs.

There is a lot more to re-opening the Leamside Line than Nissan.
It instantly opens up space on the ECML and Durham Coast line as a start, gives communities left without a rail link since the closure to passengers in the 60's links to the national network, whilst offering the chance to re-invigorate those areas at the same time.
It will potentially reduce congestion and pollution on the roads too.

If the link from South Hylton is extended towards Penshaw, then with Nexus owning that section, any heavy rail accessing it, will pay a levy, which will then go into the public purse.

Network Rail viability reports/studies relating to the Leamside Line are available to view online and make interesting reading.

I think that the initial costs in rebuilding the infrastructure may be high and I am not sure about the practicalities it extending it to the Galleries, but the benefits will be felt far and wide.

(13 Apr 2015, 3:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote There is a lot more to re-opening the Leamside Line than Nissan.
It instantly opens up space on the ECML and Durham Coast line as a start, gives communities left without a rail link since the closure to passengers in the 60's links to the national network, whilst offering the chance to re-invigorate those areas at the same time.
It will potentially reduce congestion and pollution on the roads too.

If the link from South Hylton is extended towards Penshaw, then with Nexus owning that section, any heavy rail accessing it, will pay a levy, which will then go into the public purse.

Network Rail viability reports/studies relating to the Leamside Line are available to view online and make interesting reading.

I think that the initial costs in rebuilding the infrastructure may be high and I am not sure about the practicalities it extending it to the Galleries, but the benefits will be felt far and wide.

I thought Network Rail owned the stretch of line to South Hylton or is it only bit between Sunderland and Pelaw Junction NR owns...

I remember quite a few years ago reading a suggestion by someone which pretty much said, turn Sunderland Station-Pelaw over to Nexus completely and convert Park Lane and whatever land is around it to heavy rail running mainline services to Newcastle via the northern end of the Leamside Line, and run all Durham Coast Trains through Park Lane, another suggestion I have seen was a Sunderland/Washington Loop like the present Yellow Line...If only I could remember where I read this I woulda shared

(13 Apr 2015, 12:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Received a Leaflet in the Post this morning from Sharon Hodgson encouraging us to Vote for Labour on May 7th.

Her Pledges on the back of the Leaflet are:

• Secure the future of our NHS by recruiting 36,000 more frontline staff and repealing the Health and Social Care Act.  
  
• Balance the books fairly and cut the deficit every year, making the economy work for working people.
  
• Build more affordable homes and abolish the Bedroom Tax.
  
• Invest in our Transport Network, including extending the Metro to Washington.
  
• Control immigration with fair rules that benefit local people and businesses.
  

FFS - 4 of the 5 are outside of her control, are Labour Party policy, and are national issues. This really grinds on me, as candidates should dedicate their re-election pledges to what they'll do locally. There's plenty of room inside the leaflet about what Labour will do.

My Labour candidate - Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) has similar:

• Work hard to bring jobs and apprenticeships, including for young people, to Durham.
  
• Make work pay by pressing for a rise in the minimum wage and ending the use of exploitative zero hour contracts.
  
• Tackle the cost of living crisis by freezing gas and electricity bills to 2017.
  
• Fight to secure the future of our NHS for you and your family and seek improvements in health and social care services locally.
  
• Campaign to protect Durham's wonderful heritage and achieve a better quality environment, including appropriate housing for future generations.
  

It's worth noting that she mentions transport elsewhere in the leaflet, stating "The need for good quality public transport in Durham. Good transport links to and from Durham are important to a huge number of residents, and are often a lifeline for people who live in the villages around Durham City. I often speak to local peple about their experiences using public transport because we need it to provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and convenient way for people to travel. It's vital that we preserve and protect services to the villages surrounding Durham."

(13 Apr 2015, 3:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote There is a lot more to re-opening the Leamside Line than Nissan.
It instantly opens up space on the ECML and Durham Coast line as a start, gives communities left without a rail link since the closure to passengers in the 60's links to the national network, whilst offering the chance to re-invigorate those areas at the same time.
It will potentially reduce congestion and pollution on the roads too.

If the link from South Hylton is extended towards Penshaw, then with Nexus owning that section, any heavy rail accessing it, will pay a levy, which will then go into the public purse.

Network Rail viability reports/studies relating to the Leamside Line are available to view online and make interesting reading.

I think that the initial costs in rebuilding the infrastructure may be high and I am not sure about the practicalities it extending it to the Galleries, but the benefits will be felt far and wide.

Too right. There are more reasons to reopen it than there is to keep it closed.  It's as if Network Rail, Nexus and possibly even Nissan, are all waiting to see who caves in first, with regards to funding the scheme! 

(13 Apr 2015, 3:11 pm)MrFozz wrote I thought Network Rail owned the stretch of line to South Hylton or is it only bit between Sunderland and Pelaw Junction NR owns...

I remember quite a few years ago reading a suggestion by someone which pretty much said, turn Sunderland Station-Pelaw over to Nexus completely and convert Park Lane and whatever land is around it to heavy rail running mainline services to Newcastle via the northern end of the Leamside Line, and run all Durham Coast Trains through Park Lane, another suggestion I have seen was a Sunderland/Washington Loop like the present Yellow Line...If only I could remember where I read this I woulda shared

Network Rail own the stretch of line between the viaduct and South Hylton, and the entire Leamside line between Pelaw Junction and Tursdale. 

A second loop from Pelaw around Sunderland and Washington would be the best option, and it would only a slight adjustment to the track layout south of the viaduct, to connect with South Hylton. 

(13 Apr 2015, 3:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote There is a lot more to re-opening the Leamside Line than Nissan.
It instantly opens up space on the ECML and Durham Coast line as a start, gives communities left without a rail link since the closure to passengers in the 60's links to the national network, whilst offering the chance to re-invigorate those areas at the same time.
It will potentially reduce congestion and pollution on the roads too.

If the link from South Hylton is extended towards Penshaw, then with Nexus owning that section, any heavy rail accessing it, will pay a levy, which will then go into the public purse.

Network Rail viability reports/studies relating to the Leamside Line are available to view online and make interesting reading.

I think that the initial costs in rebuilding the infrastructure may be high and I am not sure about the practicalities it extending it to the Galleries, but the benefits will be felt far and wide.

The nearest you could get to The Galleries is by having a P&R Site to connect to the Extended System at either Follingsby Park/Peel Retail Park, You could possibly fit in a P&R Site off of Northumberland Way/Pattinson Road if you were to clear what is on Swan Road just further down the road from Barmston Court, which runs in line with Northumberland Way and the Leamside Line.

From looking on Google Maps at Swan Road there is Blingmotors/RS Vent/Pizza Stagioni/Treasure Express 4/Able Workwear/Pet Troopers and Plawsworth Car Sales which would need demolished along with a load of Trees..

(13 Apr 2015, 3:11 pm)MrFozz wrote I thought Network Rail owned the stretch of line to South Hylton or is it only bit between Sunderland and Pelaw Junction NR owns...

I remember quite a few years ago reading a suggestion by someone which pretty much said, turn Sunderland Station-Pelaw over to Nexus completely and convert Park Lane and whatever land is around it to heavy rail running mainline services to Newcastle via the northern end of the Leamside Line, and run all Durham Coast Trains through Park Lane, another suggestion I have seen was a Sunderland/Washington Loop like the present Yellow Line...If only I could remember where I read this I woulda shared

The link I put up the other day, states Nexus own the track between South Hylton and Sunderland station, with it leased to Network Rail on a long term basis. Was something like 99 years.

(13 Apr 2015, 8:19 pm)Andreos1 wrote The link I put up the other day, states Nexus own the track between South Hylton and Sunderland station, with it leased to Network Rail on a long term basis. Was something like 99 years.

That is probably what I thinking of

(13 Apr 2015, 5:11 pm)Malarkey wrote The nearest you could get to The Galleries is by having a P&R Site to connect to the Extended System at either Follingsby Park/Peel Retail Park, You could possibly fit in a P&R Site off of Northumberland Way/Pattinson Road if you were to clear what is on Swan Road just further down the road from Barmston Court, which runs in line with Northumberland Way and the Leamside Line.

From looking on Google Maps at Swan Road there is Blingmotors/RS Vent/Pizza Stagioni/Treasure Express 4/Able Workwear/Pet Troopers and Plawsworth Car Sales which would need demolished along with a load of Trees..

The problems caused by building a new town away from the railway network eh?
Peterlee is the same.

A lot of the sites/locations of the old railways, such as the one which went through what is now Brady Square, have been built over. Obviously this means, it makes extensions from the main part of the line, to the Galleries - would take a lot of work.

(13 Apr 2015, 9:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote The problems caused by building a new town away from the railway network eh?
Peterlee is the same.

A lot of the sites/locations of the old railways, such as the one which went through what is now Brady Square, have been built over. Obviously this means, it makes extensions from the main part of the line, to the Galleries - would take a lot of work.

But one consideration with the Wahington new town was street running. All the verges on the trunk roads are massive and have scope to widen by some degree.

 Andreos1
The problems caused by building a new town away from the railway network eh?
Peterlee is the same.

A lot of the sites/locations of the old railways, such as the one which went through what is now Brady Square, have been built over. Obviously this means, it makes extensions from the main part of the line, to the Galleries - would take a lot of work.

(13 Apr 2015, 9:08 pm)aureolin wrote But one consideration with the Wahington new town was street running. All the verges on the trunk roads are massive and have scope to widen by some degree.

This is why I have been against the Idea of the Metro coming to Washington for so long now, as I have always interpreted as extending into the main Central Hub of Washington, which is The Galleries, rather than as I have managed to figure it out in my previous post, maybe my standpoint has changed somewhat.

I do think however that if the Leamside Line was to Re-Open then having a P&R Site on Northumberland Way at Barmston Court would be the most ideal and cost effective option, rather than Alternatively have the line extend down Northumberland Way past Biddick Comp continuing down Northumberland Way and on to the A182 to The Galleries, with a Terminus point inline on the A182 with Princess Anne Park.

If you were to Knock Down the Job Centre and other Office Blocks surrounding it, you could further extend the line so that the terminus point is then within a Minute or 2s walking distance of The Galleries Shopping Centre and Transport Interchange.

[attachment=6557]

(13 Apr 2015, 9:08 pm)aureolin wrote But one consideration with the Wahington new town was street running. All the verges on the trunk roads are massive and have scope to widen by some degree.

(13 Apr 2015, 10:16 pm)Malarkey wrote  Andreos1
The problems caused by building a new town away from the railway network eh?
Peterlee is the same.

A lot of the sites/locations of the old railways, such as the one which went through what is now Brady Square, have been built over. Obviously this means, it makes extensions from the main part of the line, to the Galleries - would take a lot of work.


This is why I have been against the Idea of the Metro coming to Washington for so long now, as I have always interpreted as extending into the main Central Hub of Washington, which is The Galleries, rather than as I have managed to figure it out in my previous post, maybe my standpoint has changed somewhat.

I do think however that if the Leamside Line was to Re-Open then having a P&R Site on Northumberland Way at Barmston Court would be the most ideal and cost effective option, rather than Alternatively have the line extend down Northumberland Way past Biddick Comp continuing down Northumberland Way and on to the A182 to The Galleries, with a Terminus point inline on the A182 with Princess Anne Park.

If you were to Knock Down the Job Centre and other Office Blocks surrounding it, you could further extend the line so that the terminus point is then within a Minute or 2s walking distance of The Galleries Shopping Centre and Transport Interchange.

I was thinking about this last night and wondered if using the existing track bed on the c2c upto St Roberts would help.
I had no idea about it these posts until now.
It could then use the Washington Highway/Princess Anne Park alignment upto the Galleries.
Crossings of some type would be needed at St Roberts (who remembers the old level crossing?) and over the A195.

(14 Apr 2015, 7:14 am)Andreos1 wrote I was thinking about this last night and wondered if using the existing track bed on the c2c upto St Roberts would help.
I had no idea about it these posts until now.
It could then use the Washington Highway/Princess Anne Park alignment upto the Galleries.
Crossings of some type would be needed at St Roberts (who remembers the old level crossing?) and over the A195.

Could put a Bridge over the top so that the line doesnt have an affect on Traffic, as the way I have it on the map above it would cause chaos at the Roundabout, alternatively there is an Underpass which runs under the Roundabout, widen that and the dig a Tunnel under the road across to the otherside of Northumberland Way which leads onto the A182/Princess Anne Park as the way I have the Yellow Line on the Map would suggest.

Furthermore there would have to be a Bridge at the bottom end of Princess Anne Park(Lambton End) as there is a Subway which leads onto the Estate, also if you were to further extend to where the Job Centre is, you would need yet another Bridge to go over the Exit to The Galleries, so potentially you might need 3 Bridges in Place, which would add further cost to opening the extended line.

I definitely think the having a Park & Ride Service between The Galleries and Northumberland Way would be the Best Option if the Leamside Line was to re-open, would save a few Million Pounds also whilst boosting Passenger Number on Services 2/2A/4 and W6 which would operate near to the P&R Site.