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Leamside Line agreement signed between Gateshead and County Durham
Summary
The transport secretary has signed an agreement to progress reopening the Leamside Line, subject to a business case that demonstrates value for money. Further work will be taken forward under Northern Powerhouse Rail and earlier funding was agreed in 2025 for the northern section as part of a Washington loop.
Content
An agreement to progress reopening the Leamside Line was signed by the transport secretary, with the condition that the project demonstrates value for money. The route runs from Pelaw in Gateshead to Tursdale in County Durham and has been closed to passengers since the 1960s. Further development work will be taken forward as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme. Funding was previously agreed in 2025 to restore the northern section as part of a new Washington loop of the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Key details:
- The agreement was signed by the transport secretary and is subject to agreement of a business case and assurance of value for money.
- The Leamside Line runs from Pelaw to Tursdale and was closed to passengers in the 1960s.
- Regional politicians say the line could provide train links for 100,000 people in the north-east of England.
- Funding was agreed in 2025 for the northern section to form part of a Washington loop of the Tyne and Wear Metro.
- The government will work with the North East on the business case for the remainder of the reopening, including considering better connectivity for Sunderland.
- The route could allow new services through Ferryhill, Sincliffe, Belmont, West Rainton and Penshaw, and provide an alternative path for freight to free capacity on the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle.
Summary:
The signing marks a move to advance plans to restore the Leamside Line, with further development to be progressed under Northern Powerhouse Rail and partial funding already in place. Subsequent work will focus on preparing and agreeing the remaining business case and confirming that the project delivers value for money.
