Declares that the Petitioners believe that the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington is a vital, yet missing, part of the region’s transport system, and further that such an extension would make a significant contribution to the economic development of the town.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Transport to seriously explore the feasibility of extending the Tyne and Wear Metro to the town of Washington, utilising the old Leamside railway line.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Official Report, 6 May 2014; Vol. 580, c. 122.]
[P001346]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received 21 May 2014:
My Department is supporting Nexus in delivering an 11-year programme of works to renew and improve the Tyne and Wear Metro. This work is being funded with up to £350 million of grant from DFT and includes refurbishment of the Metrocar fleet, modernisation of 60 stations, and new communications systems. Nexus is also overhauling and maintaining structures such as bridges and tunnels, track and overhead power lines, as well as modernising other infrastructure and technology including new “smart” ticket machines, gates at key stations and back office equipment, part funded using a further tranche of Government grant amounting to around £15 million.
Further improvements, such as replacement of the fleet and expansion of the Tyne and Wear Metro will be considered by Nexus as part of its planning for the next phase of work, for the period after 2021. This work has commenced and I understand that an extension to Washington is one of the areas which is being looked at as part of this.
The work Nexus is carrying out on options for the future includes a comprehensive analysis of factors including network integration with land use and other modes, future technologies and funding.
The Initial work programme to develop an outline business case will take about two years and be subject to local support and development costs being met.