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**Hugh** · 05-10-2023, 15:59

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news...ytale-27848664

Quote:

The Government has U-turned on its commitment to reopen the Leamside railway line, just 24 hours after making the massive announcement.

A restoration of the mothballed line, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead to Tursdale in County Durham, was included in initial announcements about the ‘Network North’ programme revealed by Rishi Sunak on Wednesday. The Prime Minister pledged to invest in hundreds of transport projects around the North and Midlands, using £36bn he says will be saved by scrapping the northern leg of HS2.

But, just a day later, all reference to reopening the Leamside Line has been removed from the Network North website and the promise seemingly abandoned. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday lunchtime, roads minister Richard Holden confirmed that the Government was simply “committed to looking into” the Leamside Line project…

… On Wednesday, a bullet point list of North East projects included in Network North stated: “The Leamside Line, closed in 1964, will also be reopened.” That web page has now been taken down and there is no mention of Leamside in a 40-page Network North policy document, only a pledge to bring train services to Ferryhill.

In related news

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/202...nine-years-ago

Quote:

The Government has pledged to extend the Metrolink network in Manchester towards the Airport - despite the fact it was built nine years ago.

It comes as part of Rishi Sunak's announcement to create a 'Network North', using £36 billion saved from scrapping the Manchester leg of HS2 to invest in rail, road and bus services.

The GOV.UK website says the government will improve connectivity in all six Northern city areas, inlcuding: "the extension of the Manchester Metrolink to Heywood, Bolton, Wigan and Manchester Airport and bus rapid transit corridors in Manchester."