(10 Mar 2024, 7:40 pm)Adrian wrote They don't need to come from anywhere. It's only a 2.5 mile stretch between the south end of the Viaduct to South Hylton. Probably the same distance as East Boldon to Seaburn.

Although there was historically a station at Cox Green, there's just nothing there to serve, and I imagine any proposals for development would be fiercely resisted.

Washington is a growing town of 67k, and even at that, one of the proposed stations is being built with a new development in mind; Washington Meadows. The plans I saw last May included a P&R, Station, housing, bus loop, and new primary school.

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See, any plans with housing I could imagine being completely toxic considering all the fields near the railway line are green belt which never goes well.

Even known it's only 2.5 mile, if that's going to a take a large chunk of the budget for no benefits it won't be going anywhere. £700m is a lot of money being spent for 2 stations at East Washington, as it's completely useless for the Galleries or anywhere west of the A182.

If I'm right, the feasibility study hasn't been done yet and it'll be interesting to see the results as I have a feeling it won't be too positive.

If we're really being ambitious, I'd rather see the line extended down to Rainton/Hetton with a new town built between Fenceshouses, the Raintons and Hetton. It's not exactly the most difficult, with proper planning - which won't happen as it's England.