(31 Oct 2021, 7:25 pm)Adrian wrote I lived in Washington for most of my life, so know how long it has been campaigned for, and also the disappointment when the successive Governments have failed to act.  

The line would provide so many benefits; not just to the ECML capacity, but also to be able to create the Wearside loop of the Metro and even allow Nissan to transport by Rail freight rather than diesel HGVs. Follingsby is also an expanding business park at last, and the amount of jobs Amazon has created there would be an ideal opportunity for a Metro station. It's literally in the perfect place.

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..