(15 Dec 2025, 9:49 pm)solsburian wrote it is pretty insane that it is in that situation. Nexus could be doing more for Blaydon and Duston tbh, but ever since the Metro creamed off the bulk of the rail network, they seemed to have lost interest in their remaining heavy rail stations.

TBH The whole Tyne Valley line needs a bit of an overhaul, like addressing the speed restrictions around Bensham and increasing the line speed to 75 MPH (and even perhaps 90/100 MPH for any future new trains).

Yeah honestly agreed, personally I always wish it was advertised as part of the 'Metro Network'. You'd boost numbers up instantly if you actually promoted the connection to the Metrocentre with an easy change at Central Station with through tickets and what not.

Same discussion for the Northumberland Line truthfully. You could easily have it something similar to the Underground / Overground in London, Metro / RER in Paris, U Bahn / S Bahn in Germany if you wanted to advertise them differently as they're not far from it anyway. 

Instead we have situation where most people probably don't even the links really exist and as a result the trains are dead (Metrocentre shorts). It's not like the Metro is miles away from National Rail nowadays anyway bar the smaller height clearance in the tunnels and different signalling which hopefully they eliminate with the upgrade anyway.

(16 Dec 2025, 9:18 am)Storx wrote Yeah honestly agreed, personally I always wish it was advertised as part of the 'Metro Network'. You'd boost numbers up instantly if you actually promoted the connection to the Metrocentre with an easy change at Central Station with through tickets and what not.

Same discussion for the Northumberland Line truthfully. You could easily have it something similar to the Underground / Overground in London, Metro / RER in Paris, U Bahn / S Bahn in Germany if you wanted to advertise them differently as they're not far from it anyway. 

Instead we have situation where most people probably don't even the links really exist and as a result the trains are dead (Metrocentre shorts). It's not like the Metro is miles away from National Rail nowadays anyway bar the smaller height clearance in the tunnels and different signalling which hopefully they eliminate with the upgrade anyway.

The Devolution bill going through Parliament will give the metro Mayors greater control over local rail. It’s not that Nexus neglects local rail- it’s out of their hands. London is well integrated because TfL have absolute control. London also was spared the failed experiment of Bus Deregulation.

(16 Dec 2025, 1:37 pm)Economic505 wrote The Devolution bill going through Parliament will give the metro Mayors greater control over local rail. It’s not that Nexus neglects local rail- it’s out of their hands. London is well integrated because TfL have absolute control. London also was spared the failed experiment of Bus Deregulation.

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, 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.

Saw this on X a while back

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

(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

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.

(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.

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

They missed out Seghill!

(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

Haven't seen that one before, be a good network aswell really bar the obvious expensive gaps like the West End of Newcastle. 

It's mental because branding wise the blocks etc Nexus possibly has the best branding in the country, outside London, but they just don't use them. Never understood why tbh.

I may have read and forgotten, but where are the proposed Washington North and south stations planned to be?

More carriages? 

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

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

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

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.

(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.

Only seem to operate 4-car services when Sunderland are at Home other than that seems to always be a 2-car from what I have seen recently.

There are a lot of units going back forth between Neville Hill and Heaton depending on service demand also from what I have seen on RTT, or could just be for maintenance.

That’s for maintenance. Heaton is the lead depot for 15x exams.

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.

(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.

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

(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

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

(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

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.

(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.

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

(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

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, 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.

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.

Electrifying the Durham Coast line would be pointless as the metro uses a unique 1,500v DC system, which heavy rail electric stock would not be compatible with.

The suggestion of dropping the frequency on the Durham Coastline is way off the mark.

(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.

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, 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.

Even better, Is there space for a Glasgow Central - Carstairs - Carlisle - Hexham - Newcastle - then onwards to London or Birmingham service.

(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.

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, 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.

XC could go back to bi-hourly between Glasgow & Edinburgh, or TPE could extend the NCL-EDB stoppers.

(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.

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.

(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.

If its quicker to do the same as Lumo, then go to Queen Street. 
Also, why wasnt the Northumberland Line electrified, seems a bit silly to have do it in 10 years or so when it would have been easier to do it during construction. You could have also removed slower trains off the ECML north of Newcastle.

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, 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.

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.