(15 Jan 2022, 4:37 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The route which was originally mooted was the West Harton Line which might have generated a journey time comparable to the 20 depending on how many stations were built. Another option was reinstating the curve from Tyne Dock station to the Tyne Dock freight line which, once again, might have generated a comparable journey time. The latest idea mooted in the press, operating to Hebburn and onto the Leamside Line using the old Monkton Colliery alignment, then looping around to South Hylton before continuing Sunderland is the most gluebag yet and certainly won't win any passengers wishing to travel between South Shields and Sunderland.
None of this matters though as we'll all probably be dead before any ground is broken.
Even then a West Harton link is only handy for people who live in the west of South Shields, which do have a lack of options to get to Sunderland, or people from Sunderland going to South Shields town centre (for some reason). It wouldn't effect the 20 as most of the people who use it don't get on in the town centre.