(26 Nov 2020, 8:02 pm)Storx wrote You've also got the problem is that is everyone at Consett going to Newcastle, it's easy to say that at Ashington etc as it's the only city nearby. Consett on the other hand has Durham which is an equal distance so the population potential is pretty split in on who's going to use it straight away. Pipe dream definitely the best description

Very true and it was something I was thinking about earlier whilst posting.

If local politicians of all persuasions really wanted to connect Consett to the railway, it would be certainly cheaper and more cost-effective to provide funding for a minor diversion to the routes of the 16/16A/X5/X15 to serve Durham station on their way in and out of Durham. The forerunner to the 20, the 220, used to terminate at the station so it is doable.