(01 Nov 2021, 8:24 am)54APhotography wrote Agree entirely and the Amazon subject was laid in front of the DfT when planning was being considered, the response was it would form part of a new transport network to inject prosperity.. Grant Shapps said that...  Network Rail had twice submitted plans, one electrified, one not. In fact Shapps himself last year said it was crucial for future HS2 trains running to Newcastle, hinting Trans Pennine could run via Washington as a method of increasing overall capacity. Then this fund was dreamt up. Six projects already close to signing off were thrown into it including Leamside. It stood no chance in bare financial terms.

It is far more than just another old railway line, without it we cant expect any improvement of train services, cant have any future HS2 trains (if that is even likely now), and the meagre investment won't grow because our transport links can't cope..