I’m delighted our Government is backing the reopening of the Leamside Line
Kate Osborne MP has backed the reopening of the Leamside Line.
The Member of Parliament for Jarrow and Gateshead East, Kate Osborne, has welcomed the Government’s backing to reopening the historic Leamside Line.
Under the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) initiative, development work on the railway line, which was closed 60 years ago, is set to progress.
The line, which runs from Pelaw, in Gateshead, to Tursdale, in County Durham, would bring new train services through Ferryhill, Shincliffe, Belmont, West Rainton and Penshaw, as well as providing an alternative line for freight trains.
It will also to support an extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro network and see people working in the North East benefiting from faster rail links, shorter commutes and potential new job openings.
Speaking about the Government backing, Kate Osborne MP said: “Alongside my Labour colleagues, I have been campaigning for years for the Leamside Line to be reopened.
“The last Tory Government said they would reopen the Leamside line and then u-turned on that pledge within 24 hours.
“I am delighted that our Labour Government is now making this a reality and reconnecting towns and villages in the Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency and across the North East.
“As Chair of the North East APPG, I know that transport links are the number one concern of local businesses, we are now transforming public transport and supercharging growth across our region.”
Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, has stated that reopening the line would transform communities across the region.
She added: “The Leamside Line is a once in a generation project that has the potential to transform our communities and I'm pleased the Government has committed to work with us on this.
"My region deserves major investment in transport and that's what we're delivering, we will work with the Government on the proposed Leamside reopening, aiming to bring back rail to parts of County Durham for the first time in decades.”
More details on the reopening of the Leamside Line can be found at: https://www.leamsideline.co.uk/.