Government 'working closely' to reopen rail line

Kim McGuinness said she was "absolutely determined" to see the project through

The government is "working closely" with regional leaders to reopen a disused railway line, a minister has said.

During a visit to north-east England, local transport minister Simon Lightwood said Labour was "committed" to enhanced rail provision in the region.

Mayor Kim McGuinness has said restoring the Leamside Line and delivering on extensions for the Tyne and Wear Metro is high on her priority list, with an £8m cash injection having been announced last month.

But there have been questions over the scheme, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves axed the Restoring Your Railway fund.

The Metro expansion is expected to cost the region £745m and the full Leamside plans are likely to come in at well over £1bn.

But Mr Lightwood told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The government wants to invest in integrated transport, so that people can change from a bus to a bike, to the Metro to rail.

"Funding for this will of course be taken as part of the spending review, but we are totally committed to improving city transport networks across the country, including here in the North East."

'Absolutely determined'

The proposals to extend the Metro network would allow trains to travel from South Hylton terminus, over the Victoria Viaduct, through to Washington and Follingsby and connect back to the Metro line at Pelaw.

Mr Lightwood said the government was working closely with the North East Combined Authority to "support them the best we can".

Ms McGuinness said she was "absolutely determined" to see the Metro extended and the Leamside Line opened, claiming it would result in £90m a year in economic benefit.

"Washington is the fourth biggest town in the UK without access to a train station," she said.

"I believe the government understands that and we will work together to deliver it for the people.

"People have waited some time for this and we will make sure we have the integrated public transport that people deserve."