New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal

North East mayor Kim McGuinness called the investment a "game-changing moment"

A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built as part of a £1.85bn government investment and, when it opens, will be the first extension to the system for 30 years.

The money would help meet the cost of the route to Washington, Sunderland, with funds also expected to come from the private sector, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) said.

It is hoped the new line, estimated to cost about £900m, will start running in 2033, 31 years since the line through Sunderland opened in 2002.

Nexus, which operates the Metro system, said it was "a historic moment".

"This project is going to be transformative for the people of Washington and our customers, opening a new Metro route corridor along the northern part of the former Leamside Line to one of our region's largest towns," said Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would award £15.6bn in total to areas across the UK.

The first trains are expected to start running on the line on 2033

A feasibility study into the new Metro route is already under way, alongside design work for the stations, bridges and other infrastructure.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she secured the investment after raising it with Reeves.

The money would also help create a so-called Angel Network, she said, a public transport system which would use contactless smart travel across buses, Metros and trains.

"This is a game-changing moment for the people of our region, who can look forward to a truly world-class integrated public transport network, safer walking and cycling routes throughout our towns and cities, better local roads and a massive acceleration on our journey to an EV [electric vehicle] future," McGuinness said.

'Waited a long time'

The leader of Sunderland City Council, councillor Michael Mordey, called the announcement "great news" for Washington and the whole city.

He said the new line would "transform public transport for people living in Washington" and help connect people to jobs at nearby Nissan and International Advanced Manufacturing Park.

"We have waited a long time to see Metro reach Washington with a direct line from the city centre," Mordey added.

The funding has been agreed as the latest phase of the region's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS2). It will cover the period from 2027 to 2032.

The package would also fund highways maintenance, walking and cycling routes, hundreds of new EV charging points and new measures to make bus journey times more reliable, NECA said.

Rachel Anderson, assistant director for policy at North East Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the investment.

"Upgrading our local transport networks, including progress on the Washington Metro link, is vital to connecting people to opportunity and driving regional growth," she added.