(26 Nov 2020, 7:21 am)MurdnunoC wrote As much as he likes to harp on about a 'direct link' between Consett and Metrocentre, there really isn't that many large communities if the line went down the Derwent Walk. There's only really Shotley Bridge and Rowlands Gill which would benefit from stations. The rest of the line is decisively rural. Stations at Ebchester, High/Low Westwood, and Winlaton Mill are too far away from the villages they'll serve and I don't see the point of reopening the station at Lintz Green.

The most likely route will be the one closed in 1984 which is now the Sunderland - Consett cycleway which would probably see stations at Leadgate, Anfield Plain, Stanley, Beamish and Pelton before rejoining the ECML at Ouston Junction. That would serve the most communities and would probably see the most growth.

I had never thought about that, but I agree that is the best option. 

There's a lot of marks who believe that Richard Holden will get them the Metro, but I just cannot see it being feasible. Even if they reduced the journey time to what you suggest earlier, I don't think that provides enough of an economic benefit over the bus link. 

GNE have been doing a lot of work in Consett lately in an attempt to get over. I know the express stuff was a force of hand because of the Newcastle clean air zone, but there's also been the work and promotion done around the local Venture network.