(30 Jan 2024, 4:04 pm)54APhotography wrote I agree with any reopening and cohesive plan between local and national government, developers and investors. Problem is there is no cohesive thinking, local politics is all about infighting and corruption. National politics much the same but with added ignorance of the North East.
In theory there is another way of getting to Durham, via Wardley and Washington South, Hence houses and off the Leamside to Brasside and Newton Hall. How the metro would get to Durham Station is another matter.
The other major issue is the Leamside would need massive re-engineering to be a real alternative, that means full electrification and 125mph linespeed.
And even if that were possible, the bottleneck is still Darlington. You can't rebuild Northallerton to Ferryhill without monumental cost. Yarm viaduct is unlikely to be able to electrified without structural problems.
If there were any serious commitment a completely new line needs building, then downgrade the ECML, would work out cheaper.
Realistically very little is going to happen heavy rail wise up here. A new Government will be so hamstrung by the mess the Toriea have caused that one term will pass without anything good happening......
I totally agreed, to be fair. Mind I think some of the slower trains wouldn't care as long as it's not too slow, if they're terminating at Newcastle anyway.
It's a shame really like, personally I genuinely think there's more benefit to the line South of Washington rather than East to Sunderland. I still don't think they'll ever get that bit anyway and it'll end at Washington anyway, bridge too expensive or something as the excuse.
One thing that would help though is if they let us control our trains, I know Burnham is trying to take control of the local services in Manchester and it would massively help, get the Tyne Valley, Northumberland Line, Durham Coast and imo Leamside Line in it's own little sub rail network.
Btw when you said there's nothing South of Ferryhill, one thing I'd love to see is to cut the corner off at Newton Aycliffe and open Bishop Auckland / Shildon to Newcastle services.
I'm surprised it's never been mentioned ever before, when we have stuff like Consett lines flying around which let's be honest, is as bonkers as they get. Bit beyond this thread though. Seems a cheap enough job, it's just what trains tbh.