(08 Jan 2014, 6:39 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote The Topic of Extending the T&W Metro has begun again I see, Spotted the Link to the Petition on my Facebook Feed.
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/de...OgSGGtoAWJ&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
From a Personal point of View, Despite living in Washington I am not going to sign the Petition for the Extension of the Metro. I feel this would be bad for the Area. I don't think Washington needs the Metro, I think the Metro needs Washington, Thing is we have an Excellent Bus Service to Areas served by the Metro, Up to Every 10 Minutes on the 2A/2C to Sunderland, Every 10 Minutes on the 4 to Heworth and the same on the X1, Plus the fact it would cost Millions to put in the Extra Infrastructure, then that will lead to a Rise in Bus Fares etc, So really who is going to Benefit from it, I think it is a Waste of Time and Money, Look at the Extension to Sunderland, How well used is that, Few Times I have used the Metro To/From Sunderland its been Quiet with exception of Matchdays.
I'm surprised at someone living in Washington not signing the petition if asked to mind. You (or your folks) are already paying for it in the form of an ITA levy via Council Tax. Why pay for something and not fight for it...?
I'd highly doubt the millions in extra infrastructure would lead to a rise in bus fares. It's completely illogical for a business to respond to competition by upping their fares. If someone opened a News Agents next door to another, you wouldn't see the original business respond by upping the price of chocolate bars by 20p would you? Regardless, the millions would only ever come from a government grant. So it'd be in addition to the current ITA budgets.
Reopening of the leamside line, for mixed purpose rather than just Metro, makes perfect sense. The obvious extension of the T&W Metro system, then you have the benefit of additional capacity on the already congested ECML, not to mention the potential of Nissan using rail freight.
P.s: signed.
