Latest news with #TyneAndWearMetro
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Washington locals react to Tyne and Wear Metro extension
As the prospect of Tyne and Wear Metro trains cutting through Washington takes a significant step forward, those on its doorstep are cautiously optimistic about political promises becoming a rail East Mayor Kim McGuinness recently announced funding to repurpose part of the mothballed Leamside Line into an extension to the Metro. The bill? About £ up from Pelaw in Gateshead to South Hylton in Sunderland, Metro trains could one day be making their way past Follingsby Park and into two yet unplaced stations provisionally known as Washington North and South, creating the "Washington Loop". "It'll be a good thing... if it happens," Graham Horn tells me at his home on Barmston Close, overlooking a former railway bridge now overcome with vegetation but which could be put back to use by has lived in the town for 63 years and proudly says he is a "Washington man".He remembers the closure of the Leamside Line in 1964 which, by that point, was "only really coal trains and the odd train before the line was closed down". Elsewhere on the street, and in the shadow of the old line, Laura Patton has lived here for 22 admits she is not put off by the thought of trains once again passing her home."It's a good thing because there's a lot of people missed having the Metro come through Washington," she said."It'll get used a lot."Another resident tells me she hopes it is a "great success", but seems hesitant to show much excitement, adding: "They've talked about it for a long time but nothing has ever happened. Hopefully it will this time." About 1.6 miles (2.5km) away, the WWT Washington Wetland is home to 57 flamingos, two otters named Buster and Musa and a whole host of other animals. But visitors are having to use two or three buses to get there, unless they is worse for some volunteers who travel from as far as north Newcastle. Gill Pipes, who runs the charity-operated reserve which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, said of the extension: "It really is essential."Washington is a huge town, one of the biggest in the UK, and to not have a rail network or Metro, it's quite prohibitive."The fact that people will be able to use the train, and then the Metro, that's going to be amazing." Sunderland Conservatives previously raised concern over the "high cost" to extend the Metro comparing it with the lower cost of £298m to reopen the Northumberland line to Labour's McGuinness said the investment had been secured after talks with Chancellor Rachel are now under way to determine how the new Metro route will work in practice, alongside design work for the three new stations, bridges and numerous additional infrastructure. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal
A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built for the first time in 30 years, as part of a £1.85bn government investment. 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. 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. 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. 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. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line feasibility study under way Mayor recommits to Metro extension plan North East Combined Authority Nexus
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Washington Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn funding deal
A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built for the first time in 30 years, as part of a £1.85bn government 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) is hoped the new line, estimated to cost about £900m, will start running in 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. The government is to award £15.6bn in total to areas across the UK in a move it claims will "make all parts of the country better off", with Chancellor Rachel Reeves making the announcement in Greater Manchester later. A feasibility study into the new Metro route is already under way, alongside design work for the stations, bridges and other 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 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 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 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. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Metro fare dodging down near pre-pandemic levels
Fare evasion on the Tyne and Wear Metro appears to have dropped back to close to pre-pandemic levels. The rail service's operator Nexus estimated fares had been dodged on about 4.6% of journeys in 2024. This is down from the 8.3% level it estimated in 2021 and closer to the 4.0% recorded in 2019. Nexus operations director Kevin Storey said the company had worked "extremely hard" to reduce ticket fraud. Kevin Dickinson, who runs the Sort out the Metro Facebook group, said the drop could also be due to the Metro becoming free in 2021 for children aged below 11 who travelled with an adult. Nexus said it had made its estimates using a team of researchers who survey people on the Metro. "While this is based on passengers admitting they don't have a ticket, our team of researchers do not issue penalty fares and act as neutral surveyors," a spokesperson said. Mr Dickinson said it was "good to see" fare evasion was dropping on the rail service but suggested that if this was due to some children aged below 11 no longer having to pay for the service, it did not mean an increase in revenue. He also said the figures did not take into account the fact that the annual number of journeys on the Metro had yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, which also affected income levels. The data, provided following a freedom of information (FOI) request, showed there were more than 34.5m journeys on the Metro in 2019 compared to 30.9m in 2024. Nexus said a major factor behind the fall in fare evasion was the penalty fine for not buying a ticket rising from £20 to £100 in January 2023. "This has undoubtedly made people think twice about travelling without a ticket," said Mr Storey. He said 75% of Metro journeys had to pass through ticket gates and new barriers would be installed at Regent Centre this year. "Metro is a public service and doesn't make a profit," said Mr Storey. "Every penny that we receive in fares helps to meet the cost of operating the system." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. All new Metro trains pulled from service Metro Bashers find fellowship in front carriage First new Metro train runs after lengthy delays Nexus
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Metro fare dodging down near pre-pandemic levels
Fare evasion on the Tyne and Wear Metro appears to have dropped back to close to pre-pandemic levels. The rail service's operator Nexus estimated fares had been dodged on about 4.6% of journeys in 2024. This is down from the 8.3% level it estimated in 2021 and closer to the 4.0% recorded in 2019. Nexus operations director Kevin Storey said the company had worked "extremely hard" to reduce ticket fraud. Kevin Dickinson, who runs the Sort out the Metro Facebook group, said the drop could also be due to the Metro becoming free in 2021 for children aged below 11 who travelled with an adult. Nexus said it had made its estimates using a team of researchers who survey people on the Metro. "While this is based on passengers admitting they don't have a ticket, our team of researchers do not issue penalty fares and act as neutral surveyors," a spokesperson said. Mr Dickinson said it was "good to see" fare evasion was dropping on the rail service but suggested that if this was due to some children aged below 11 no longer having to pay for the service, it did not mean an increase in revenue. He also said the figures did not take into account the fact that the annual number of journeys on the Metro had yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, which also affected income levels. The data, provided following a freedom of information (FOI) request, showed there were more than 34.5m journeys on the Metro in 2019 compared to 30.9m in 2024. Nexus said a major factor behind the fall in fare evasion was the penalty fine for not buying a ticket rising from £20 to £100 in January 2023. "This has undoubtedly made people think twice about travelling without a ticket," said Mr Storey. He said 75% of Metro journeys had to pass through ticket gates and new barriers would be installed at Regent Centre this year. "Metro is a public service and doesn't make a profit," said Mr Storey. "Every penny that we receive in fares helps to meet the cost of operating the system." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. All new Metro trains pulled from service Metro Bashers find fellowship in front carriage First new Metro train runs after lengthy delays Nexus
