(16 Dec 2025, 5:09 pm)Storx wrote To be fair I'm not sure Nexus actually needs to do anything with the rail itself. 

Beyond that West Yorkshire already have integration on rail fares with buses etc, technically we do with Network One aswell and also branding at the stations. 

Don't see any reason why the Nexus R symbol with them shown on the Metro map couldn't be done tomorrow? They just choose not to. In fact I'm sure Nexus subsidises the short MetroCentre services on a Sunday aswell - unless it's changed in recent years. 

Obviously going further would be nice but don't see why Nexus would need to run the trains to be able to do it.

(16 Dec 2025, 6:57 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Saw this on X a while back

https://x.com/lf_p/status/1926524305384370418?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

(16 Dec 2025, 9:10 pm)Storx wrote Aye it's dead good that. It's what made me think of it tbh, been around since they released the first version of the Metro map with the Northumberland line and how it's a complete mess tbh. 

Don't understand why they don't have something similar tbh which actually helps people. 

Then again we are talking about Nexus who has absolutely zero form of spider diagrams for buses so say no more. In terms of getting information for customers, they must be one of - if not - the worst passenger transport executives in the country. The likes of Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester are light years above.

(17 Dec 2025, 5:18 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Completely agree. Metro’s maps, wayfinding etc needs serious attention!


Also, seen there’s a what if version X too:
https://x.com/lf_p/status/1994692463538442524?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

(17 Dec 2025, 5:18 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Completely agree. Metro’s maps, wayfinding etc needs serious attention!


Also, seen there’s a what if version X too:
https://x.com/lf_p/status/1994692463538442524?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

(01 Jan 2026, 7:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote More carriages? 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lxwg77x16o

(01 Jan 2026, 8:00 pm)Economic505 wrote I hope the line gets more carriages, but not ahead of the Durham line. It’s been dreadful of late , for those who live south of Sunderland, eg Hartlepool.

(05 Jan 2026, 6:48 pm)Unber43 wrote Durham is desperate for 4 carriages or just make it every 30 mins.

Also the ashington line is only what 30-40 mins the Durham Coast is well over an hour and I have seen Standing from Hartlepool quite often and struggles after Middlesbrough.

(06 Jan 2026, 6:06 pm)Kimlfixit wrote I often see more people getting on at Thornaby than Middlesbrough! and every seat taken by Seaton Carew.

I would make them all 4 cars, as going up to 30 without extra carriages will just make the problem eventually even worse as there will be more demand than capacity

(07 Jan 2026, 7:47 pm)Unber43 wrote I would rather have a 30 min frequency than hourly. 

Maybe more customers will make them upgrade (northumberland line would be as popular at an hour?) 

Perhaps maybe some 3car 170 could make their way up here and be used on the Durham Coast, and Northumberland and 4 car 158 on Hexham to Carlise or vice versa

(18 Jan 2026, 9:54 pm)peter wrote The Durham Coast is already 2 tph - the limited stop service was increased to hourly in December and additionally calls at Stockton (only Billingham, Seaton Carew, Horden and Seaham that are still 1 tph). 

And what do you propose to run on the very busy Harrogate line services if you rob the 170's from there? There's a national shortage of old diesel rolling stock - the only real options are more clapped out old 150's from Wales (which if due an overhaul I doubt would be financially viable to take on) or their 158's which were meant to come off lease but this now might not happen until 2029.

This problem with a lack of capacity on Northern is not limited to the North East, but until they start getting their new trains in 2030+ I can't see anything changing substantially.

(23 Jan 2026, 12:57 pm)Unber43 wrote Just get the fast service to stop at all stops its only an extra few mins.

Yet its fine for Northumberland Line to have 4 coaches or this new leamside line, whats going to run on that rail replacement buses because Northumberland line needs 4 coaches. Or drop durham coast line to every hourly again

(24 Jan 2026, 1:35 am)markydh wrote As has been discussed many times, it’s not possible to add further calls to the limited stop service and still fit around the 12-minute metro frequency between Sunderland and Pelaw, not to mention the issues of pathing said trains around Newcastle station given platform 7 is now effectively the only through platform for local services in both directions (platform 5 is generally used for Ashington services and 6 for Hexham and Carlisle (semi-fast) services (which now start from and terminate at Newcastle)). Very few Northern trains use platform 9, 10 and 11 now to minimise conflicts between Tyne Valley and ECML services.

(24 Jan 2026, 4:50 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote The Ashington Line and the Durham Coast Should be Electrfied, that way the ex LNWR 350/2's could be used.  I think desiros are shorter so it may not be enough extra seats than say 2x158.

(24 Jan 2026, 4:50 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote The Ashington Line and the Durham Coast Should be Electrfied, that way the ex LNWR 350/2's could be used.  I think desiros are shorter so it may not be enough extra seats than say 2x158.

(25 Jan 2026, 9:09 am)Storx wrote imo be better to electrify from Newcastle to the Metrocentre, and Hexham station and sidings instead and then get a bunch of BEMU's to run the Newcastle - Hexham, Newcastle - Morpeth and the Newcastle - Ashington services. 

The Class 195's when they're replaced in Manchester / Leeds can do the rest.

(25 Jan 2026, 12:06 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Even better, Is there space for a Glasgow Central - Carstairs - Carlisle - Hexham - Newcastle - then onwards to London or Birmingham service.

(25 Jan 2026, 12:43 pm)Storx wrote Not sure there'd be much point personally; the Tyne Valley line is dead slow.

Be better to extend some Edinburgh services via Falkirk (not Carstairs) instead imo but I can understand why Scotrail wouldn't be too keen on that bar the very few LUMO services.

(25 Jan 2026, 1:53 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote XC could go back to bi-hourly between Glasgow & Edinburgh, or TPE could extend the NCL-EDB stoppers.

(25 Jan 2026, 9:26 pm)Storx wrote Aye it's a discussion that comes up quite regularly on the rail forums especially for Leeds aswell; The XC never really worked though, because it went by Carstairs and it just takes too long to the stage it was just as quick to jump off and Edinburgh and change anyway.

(26 Jan 2026, 2:19 am)markydh wrote It wasn’t electrified as it would have cost too much and there’s no way the government would have agreed to fund the reopening of the line to passenger traffic. It’ll likely never be electrified.

(26 Jan 2026, 9:44 am)Storx wrote Not sure it's really needed either, on paper it's ideal for a hybrid vehicle really which would get the benefits of both. Similar with the Morpeth services since the siding isn't electrified. 

Wouldn't be surprised if some of the new order turns up for both of them personally, at least, for a checkbox so they can say they've got new trains everywhere since the rest of the network has little benefit for anything electric.

(02 Apr 2026, 7:05 pm)citaro5284 wrote Unsure if it related to the new Nexus fares structure, but it seems fares on NL have come down in price.

Previously from Seaton Delaval to Newcastle it was £2.50 peak and £2.10 off peak, and now it is £2.40 and £2.00.

I wonder if this will see even more people travelling on NL more.