Nexus has revealed the proposed route and station locations for the £multi-stage extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington, setting out how the first new Metro line in 30 years could be delivered using part of the former Leamside Line.
The latest proposals identify three new stations at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South, alongside significant infrastructure works at Pelaw, South Hylton and the A19.
The 13km extension would also bring the historic Victoria Viaduct back into railway use, carrying twin Metro tracks across the River Wear.
Subject to development, funding and the necessary approvals, construction is targeted to begin in 2030 with passenger services starting in 2033.
Publication of the route is a significant step for a project which could both reconnect Washington to the rail network and form part of the wider ambitions surrounding the Leamside Line.
Three new Metro stations proposed
Under the proposals, the extension would connect with the existing Metro network at Pelaw before using the northern section of the former Leamside Line towards Washington.
Follingsby would be the first of three new stations and is currently the preferred location for a park-and-ride facility, providing another route into Newcastle and Sunderland while potentially reducing car journeys on surrounding roads.
Washington North would be built where the former Leamside Line intersects with the A1290, serving the Sulgrave area and providing interchange opportunities with local bus services. Delivering the station would require the A1290 to be diverted south over the railway.
Washington South would be located south of the former Washington station, providing access for communities including Fatfield, Columbia and Teal Farm.
From there, Metro services would cross the River Wear using Victoria Viaduct before following a new alignment towards South Hylton and connecting with the existing Metro network.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I promised we’d extend the Metro to Washington and now the next stage in that plan is underway – three brand new stations for the first time in 30 years.
“We’re doing this because you told us you want more affordable, publicly-controlled transport across the North East. Now is the time to have your say on how these plans develop.”
Victoria Viaduct brought back into railway plans
One of the most significant engineering elements is the proposed reuse of the historic Victoria Viaduct.
The structure would accommodate a twin-track railway, with overhead line equipment installed in a way intended to minimise the impact on the historic structure.
South of the viaduct, Nexus has opted for a new alignment south of Coxgreen Road. The preferred route is intended to avoid ancient woodland while reducing the requirement for large new road bridges and limiting disruption to an existing bridleway.
The railway would then pass beneath the A19 using the location of an existing underpass. A replacement structure would accommodate both Metro trains and bridleway users, while bridges would maintain public access across the railway.
At South Hylton, two options remain under consideration because of the challenge of maintaining vehicle access to properties north of the railway.
Both would involve relocating the existing Metro station further east. One option would provide a new road connection beneath the current station site, while the second would upgrade the existing underpass at Keelman’s Road.
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “This is a really significant moment for the Metro to Washington project as the proposed route and station locations are shared publicly for the first time.
“This will be the first new Metro line for 30 years, providing a new route between the cities of Sunderland and Newcastle through Washington.”
Project could unlock wider Leamside ambitions
For the wider rail industry, the significance of Metro to Washington extends beyond the 13km route itself.
The project would make practical use of the northern section of the former Leamside Line between Pelaw and the River Wear, an alignment which has been at the centre of long-running discussions about expanding rail capacity in the North East.
The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority is separately developing a business case for restoring the southern section of the Leamside Line for heavy rail.
Metro to Washington could therefore establish the northern element of a much wider transport corridor, although Nexus has stressed that connecting Penshaw to the Metro is not included within the current proposals.
That distinction will be important as the two projects develop, particularly around infrastructure interfaces and ensuring that the Metro scheme does not constrain future heavy rail ambitions.
Business case due in 2027
Nexus has now begun 14 public engagement events, with feedback from residents, businesses and other stakeholders feeding into the project’s continued development.
Route options have already been assessed against factors including cost, environmental impacts, existing infrastructure, land requirements and effects on neighbouring communities. Bus interchange, walking and cycling connections have also influenced the preferred proposals.
Discussions with potentially affected landowners are underway.
An outline business case is expected to be submitted to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority in early 2027. If the project secures the necessary approvals and funding, construction could start three years later.
There remains a substantial journey between publishing a preferred alignment and opening a railway. Detailed design, consents, funding, land acquisition and construction all still need to be navigated.
But the publication of specific station locations and engineering proposals moves Metro to Washington beyond a broad ambition and towards a defined infrastructure scheme.
If delivered in 2033 as planned, it would not only give Washington its long-awaited rail connection but could also represent the first major piece in a much broader revival of the Leamside corridor.
