Leamside future unclear despite funding pledge

RACHEL Reeves refused to confirm on Monday if a full reopening of the mothballed Leamside Line will be part of a major rail commitment for the North of England. The Chancellor teased during her Spending Review that the coming weeks would see the Government reveal plans to "take forward our ambitions" for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter

That project is a long-standing vision to improve east-to-west train connections across the North, but also includes the full reinstatement of the Leamside railway line to create a new Tyne-Tees link and free up space on the East Coast Main Line. While it has been confirmed this month that the northern part of the route will be used to open a new Washington Loop on the Tyne and Wear Metro, using some of a £1.85 billion funding package being given to North East mayor Kim McGuinness, it remains unclear whether the southern section through County Durham can also be restored.

And as the Treasury prepares to unveil a £745 billion infrastructure spending strategy for the next decade, Ms Reeves was asked on Monday if the expected NPR proposals would include reopening the full length of the Leamside Line.