The North East Joint Transport Committee instructed Nexus in January 2020 to undertake technical feasibility studies on each of the 10 potential Metro and Local Rail Extensions identified in the 2016 Metro and Local Rail Strategy. The studies will be developed to an equivalent of the Network Rail Grip 2 level examining the technical feasibility of introducing and re-introducing passenger rail services.

Nexus has grouped the extensions into 4 geographically bound packages which will be delivered over the next 18 to 24 months. This feasibility stage includes extensions in South Tyneside and Wearside specifically, the introduction of direct passenger services to the International Advanced Manufacturing Park from South Shields and Sunderland, a rail link to Doxford in Sunderland and the introduction of rail services to Washington from Sunderland.

The North East Joint Transport Committee instructed Nexus in January 2020 to undertake technical feasibility studies on each of the 10 potential Metro and Local Rail Extensions identified in the 2016 Metro and Local Rail Strategy. The studies will be developed to an equivalent of the Network Rail Grip 2 level examining the technical feasibility of introducing and re-introducing passenger rail services.

Nexus has grouped the extensions into 4 geographically bound packages which will be delivered over the next 18 to 24 months. This feasibility stage includes extensions in South Tyneside and Wearside specifically, the introduction of direct passenger services to the International Advanced Manufacturing Park from South Shields and Sunderland, a rail link to Doxford in Sunderland and the introduction of rail services to Washington from Sunderland.