(22 Apr 2014, 11:20 pm)Half Pint wrote 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.

I think that was the intention from Nexus. Run a second loop in the Metro system between Pelaw and South Hylton, via the Leamside. However, now that we're part of a combined authority, there's going to be more and more demand from Durham wanting the Metro.

There's actually no track in place any more. It was all removed at the back end of last year. So would need completely replacing, signalling, and electrifying.