The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Leamside Line met in London on Tuesday 24^th October, with Government funding to re-open the Line a key focus of the meeting.

Co-chaired by Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson and Sedgfield MP Paul Howell, the meeting welcomed Minister of State for Transport Huw Merriman MP to provide further information and updates on how the Leamside Line aligns to the Government’s recently announced Network North programme.

During the meeting, the Minister emphasised the positive voice regional businesses can make to compliment the cross-party case, the Government’s ambitions to work in partnership on business case developments, and that funding is there or moving in the right direction for the North East to use.

A former student at Durham University, Huw Merriman told the meeting that the, “…funding is there, as is the opportunity of how you wish to deliver that funding. We’ve talked long about how to deliver this project – the Metro is yours and this is potentially an extension in that regard – and we’re supportive of working with you to get that business case further.

“So, where you talk about the business case for shared resourcing, whilst I can’t commit to anything now, things have changed since the HS2 announcement, so we can now look at things that we might not have been able to say we could give any funding on. I don’t want to give any assurances at all, but our attitudes have changed as to what is possible.

“I am really keen to support [the project]. I have a lot of love for the area from my university days and I take the point that the local labour market is not connected to the employment market. The funding is there and certainly for you to decide what to do with it and we want to support you in that regard to actually make that happen.”

Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Transport North East provided an update on plans for the route and the economic and social benefits of re-opening it, not only to the region but nationally as well with improved utilisation of the East Coast Main Line opening up opportunities across England and Scotland. 

Tobyn also updated the Group on the initial business cases produced for the re-opening of Ferryhill station in County Durham, and the Washington Metro Loop – a new Metro connection from Pelaw to South Hylton via Washington – with business cases for the third phase of the project, to open the south end of the Line, being scoped by Transport North East and Network Rail.

The meeting also heard presentations from Marianne O’Sullivan, Transport Policy Manager at North East of England Chamber of Commerce and James Taylor, from Citrus Group about the importance of the Line to growing and developing businesses and employment opportunities across the region and the wider north.

Speaking after the meeting, Co-Chair Sharon Hodgson MP said “It is critical to the North East that we continue to build momentum on our campaign to re-open the Leamside Line; especially after the Government’s handling of the shambolic Network North announcement. I welcome the Minister’s attendance at the All-Party Parliamentary Group and his commitment to work with us but what the people of the North East require is a firm commitment from the Government to step-up and provide the funding for transport infrastructure that the region needs.

“The Leamside Line is not a vanity project. It is not a want. It is a need – it is absolutely critical to the growth of our region, the whole of the North of England and impacts the whole country.”

Co-Chair Paul Howell MP said “Today’s meeting was another important step forward for the Leamside Line. There is a huge strength of feeling across the North East about how important the Leamside Line is to the region’s economic growth. I thank the Minister for attending the meeting and reiterating the Government’s ambitions for the region.

“The Leamside Line is integral to our region. It is important for our growing economy and local resilience; it is important for our communities. We need to make sure that the Government recognises that, and that the Government is listening in terms of where it is putting its efforts for local rail.”

MEMBERS

Co-Chairs: Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Sunderland West) and Paul Howell MP (Sedgefield)

Officers: Ian Levy MP (Blyth Valley), Peter Gibson MP (Darlington), Emma Lewell-Buck MP (South Tyneside), Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside), Mary Foy MP (City of Durham), Julie Elliott MP (Sunderland Central), Liz Twist MP (Blaydon), Kate Osborne MP (Jarrow), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North), Baroness Quin, Baroness Grey-Thompson and Lord Shipley being elected as officers.

Further information about the Leamside Line APPG is available on the Transport North East website.