edwin_m
Veteran Member
From https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/is-rail-always-the-answer.180726/#post-3951725
Alternatively, but more difficult, Metro could cut across south of Follingsby to follow the A195 which is still east of the centre but is at least within the build-up area. Getting to the actual centre looks difficult as there is no obvious vacant corridor.
A new crossing of the Wear would also be needed for a route via South Hylton, but this would have the advantage of creating a Sunderland route that didn't rely on sharing Network Rail. The existing Sunderland route would however probably remain as it has its own intermediate catchment - perhaps divert to South Shields to reduce the length of sharing and create a new urban link?
Interesting thoughts. Going only by mapping sites, it looks like there would be plenty of room for a Metro line alongside the Leamside from about where an extended South Hylton route would re-join up to the existing Metro at Pelaw. The major structures are the A194(M) and A184 overbridges, but as far as I can tell from aerial view these were built for four tracks. As mentioned this would only directly serve the eastern fringe of Washington.Washington is the place that I know best - it's certainly a large place to be without a station but it's a difficult place to serve easily given how spread out the housing estates are - one station is still going to be a long way from most people - presumably it'd be on the Leamside line, so on the western fringes of the town - some distance from the Galleries and from Concord - requiring a bus or drive to the station (and Washington residents already have that facility with the Go Ahead 4 to Heworth Metro Station, as well as regular buses directly into central Newcastle).
If opening a "stub" branch into Newcastle then you'd need to offer a very attractive train frequency to get people to head over to the far side of Washington! But if you are opening the Leamside line throughout then it makes sense to put a station in at Washington rather than omit it.
Maybe a Metro extension from South Hylton through Washington to Gateshead would work, since that'd be at lower cost and would provide links to other parts of Wearside (but then you have the problem with that getting in the way of re-opening the Leamside to heavy rail at a future date - would people be happy with this, if it meant that re-opening the Leamside throughout meant paying to upgrade the Metro to Tram-Train?
Alternatively, but more difficult, Metro could cut across south of Follingsby to follow the A195 which is still east of the centre but is at least within the build-up area. Getting to the actual centre looks difficult as there is no obvious vacant corridor.
A new crossing of the Wear would also be needed for a route via South Hylton, but this would have the advantage of creating a Sunderland route that didn't rely on sharing Network Rail. The existing Sunderland route would however probably remain as it has its own intermediate catchment - perhaps divert to South Shields to reduce the length of sharing and create a new urban link?