SAVING THE LEAMSIDE LINE

That this House urges Network Rail to reconsider plans to remove the tracks on the mothballed Leamside Line; notes that the railway, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead to Ferryhill in south Durham, right through Houghton and Washington East constituency, has been closed to freight services since 1992, and passengers since the mid-1960s; further notes that it should be re-opened to ease pressure on the East Coast Main Line - where some regional services, including the Tyne-Tees link, have been forced off due to congestion; supports efforts by Nexus and Sunderland City Council which say the line should be retained and calls upon Network Rail to heed the advice of PTA vice chairman Councillor Joe Lawson who said that if Network Rail is serious about getting traffic off the roads, it should be developing the Leamside Line; and further notes that recognising future rail passenger increases, it is essential Wearside retains the infrastructure to meet Wearside's need.