(13 Apr 2015, 3:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote There is a lot more to re-opening the Leamside Line than Nissan.The nearest you could get to The Galleries is by having a P&R Site to connect to the Extended System at either Follingsby Park/Peel Retail Park, You could possibly fit in a P&R Site off of Northumberland Way/Pattinson Road if you were to clear what is on Swan Road just further down the road from Barmston Court, which runs in line with Northumberland Way and the Leamside Line.
It instantly opens up space on the ECML and Durham Coast line as a start, gives communities left without a rail link since the closure to passengers in the 60's links to the national network, whilst offering the chance to re-invigorate those areas at the same time.
It will potentially reduce congestion and pollution on the roads too.
If the link from South Hylton is extended towards Penshaw, then with Nexus owning that section, any heavy rail accessing it, will pay a levy, which will then go into the public purse.
Network Rail viability reports/studies relating to the Leamside Line are available to view online and make interesting reading.
I think that the initial costs in rebuilding the infrastructure may be high and I am not sure about the practicalities it extending it to the Galleries, but the benefits will be felt far and wide.
From looking on Google Maps at Swan Road there is Blingmotors/RS Vent/Pizza Stagioni/Treasure Express 4/Able Workwear/Pet Troopers and Plawsworth Car Sales which would need demolished along with a load of Trees..