(30 Jan 2024, 4:31 pm)Storx wrote 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.
Your red line is almost exactly the route of the Shildon to Newport line which crossed the ECML at Ricknall and joined the Stillington line at Redmarshall. Was a freight route and even electrified under the the NER.