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Washington & Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson says last week's rollercoaster ride on the Leamside Line - in then out of Network North plans - has actually raised the profile of the campaign to make it happen. £1bn-plus project but offering estimated £90m a yr to economy.

Less than 24hrs after promising to reopen Leamside Line, Sunak scrapped this commitment. At #LPC23 I was proud to support calls to re-open the Leamside Line to improve connectivity in the North and address local businesses concerns around transport.

Good to watch the #LeamsideLine being discussed on the ITV News Tyne Tees Around the House programme last night. Watch below👇(08:08) bit.ly/3QpbU77

At the last #LeamsideLine APPG meeting, Huw Merriman pledged support for the Line as part of some positive cross-party discussions. Thanks also to The Chamber and Citrus Group for sharing the views of the region's businesses. Read more here 👉 transportnortheast.gov.uk/latest-news/ra…

At last week's #LeamsideLine All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP #TransportLaw Partner and Chair of The Chamber's Transport Forum, Kevin Bell, shared how the line's reopening is vital for the North East's economy ▶️ ow.ly/Nhio50Q1p61

Last week, the The Chamber spoke to the #LeamsideLine All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the importance of re-opening the Line to the North East economy. 👇John McCabe and Tobyn Hughes explain why its regeneration is so important to our local economy and our communities.

Just picked up a copy of North East Times which features another great piece from Steven Hugill on the Leamside Line and Network North. Worth a read over a cuppa ☕️ #ReOpenLeamside 🚂

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committe welcomes delegates at today's RIA North Rail Industry Association Rail North Summit

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee: "By far the easiest way to release capacity on the East Coast Main Line is to re-open the Leamside Line." RIA North Transport North East

Managing Director of Transport North East, Tobyn Hughes addresses the RIA North Rail North Summit on the region's rail ambitions. "The North East has huge potential, waiting to be unleashed - rail is a very important part of that story." #RailNorth23

Tobyn Hughes on re-opening the Leamside Line and delivering the proposed Washington Metro Loop: "We must do this. "Transport is key to improving the well-being, economic prosperity and health of people in this region." #RailNorth23

Today we were delighted to welcome @PaulHowellMP to Tyne and Wear Metro Nexus Learning Centre. Great opportunity to showcase the new trains which could one day run on the re-opened Leamside Line and Washington Metro Loop!

We’ve had a great morning filming along the old line in Fencehouses 🛤️ It was great to hear Steve’s story and learn more about how important the line was to the communities of the North East. Keep your eyes peeled for the full video 👀 #ReOpenLeamside

Great morning filming for our Leamside Line campaign Watch this space... 🚆🎟

Great news for #Northeastrail 👏

Breaking transport news 📢 The North East has been awarded funding which will be used to develop a new business case for Leamside South – a section on the disused Leamside Line running from Washington to Ferryhill in County Durham🚆 Read the latest: tinyurl.com/bda9p5

We can't wait to get the business case for #LeamsideSouth moving with this new transport funding - a very welcome development 👏

Throughout the 20th Century, the Leamside Line was critical to the connectivity of our region. This #CountyDurhamDay, Steve Shields, a former British Rail Operation Manager, recounts his memories of the line and recognises the important role of the line in the 21st Century 🛤️

I promised we’d extend Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington. Today we’ve committed £8.6m to complete the business case to deliver exactly that. This is a long term project but we’re getting started. I’ll build the infrastructure of opportunity across our North East.