UK: Infrastructure consultancy Aecom has been appointed to undertake studies for the proposed reopening of the Leamside Line, including identifying opportunities to increase jobs and housing along the corridor.
This builds on an existing contract to look at the technical aspects of reopening the 34 km disused line which starts near Gateshead and runs via Washington to a junction with the East Coast Main Line south of Durham.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has pledged to fund the proposed Washington Metro Loop extension of the Tyne & Wear Metro which would use the northern section of the Leamside Line between Pelaw and Washington, and in 2024 the government awarded Transport North East £350 000 to support the development of a strategic outline case for reopening the Washington to Ferryhill southern section of the line for passenger and freight trains.
There are three elements to the studies:
- a feasibility study for Leamside South will estimate the costs, how it could connect with the national rail network and potential locations for new stations. The study will also look at technical aspects including track alignment, line speed, drainage and ecology;
- an economic growth strategy will identify the opportunities along the full length of the line;
- a spatial growth plan will map the Leamside Line’s area of influence including housing, stations and boundaries.
Richard Whitehead, Chief Executive, Europe & India at Aecom, said ‘following Aecom’s role on the Northumberland Line, which saw the successful reopening of another former rail line in the region late last year, we are delighted to support this project through our deep bench of skills and the expertise of our local teams.’
Reopening the Leamside Line would allow local rail services to be introduced, with new stations stimulating the construction of homes and providing sustainable connections to towns with poor public transport links. It could also allow slow moving freight and local passenger services to be diverted away from the East Coast Main Line, with national benefits.
‘Reopening the Leamside Line is essential not just for the North East but the whole country’, said Tobyn Hughes, Director of Transport at the North East Combined Authority, on November 28. ‘It will transform transport connections for many local communities, as well as hugely expanding rail capacity on the adjacent and congested East Coast Main Line.’
