Whitley Bay to Newcastle shortcut?

[tavistock]

When the Tyne and Wear metro system was created in the early 1980s it was clearly a vast improvement on the old North Tyneside loop... but a vital shortcut using the ECML and what is now a freight-only line, was lost.

If the proposed Ashington and Blyth link is restored, as promised by Grant Shapps, then this could pave the way for a heavy rail link once again from Newcastle and the coast.

It could put the coast back on the national rail map, and actually supplement the metro services between the city and the coast, which are rammed at peak times.

If a half hourly service were introduced it would also provide backup when there are problems the metro, particularly as there are plans to build two more metro stations in North Tyneside... adding to the journey time, and the passenger congestion.

A heavy rail link to the Newcastle Central high level station could also make it easier to travel straight to the metro centre from the coast, and beyond. Bicycles would be allowed, unlike on the metro.

If the Ashington line is up and running, all that would be needed would be the provision of a shared track from Northumberland Park eastwards... similar to the arrangement between Gateshead and Sunderland .

Pie in the sky?

 

[SeanG]

Or just order new metro trains and add more on NR running with through ticketing?

 

[tavistock]

The problem is metro trains cannot run on the ecml, and the idea is to supplement the metro system and provide a fast direct route from the coast to the city centre (and beyond to the metro centre) cutting half an hour off the journey time for passengers who want to go direct to Newcastle Central.Also, many people are put off the metro system because it , understandably, cannot accommodate toilets or adequate bicycle storage.