Bringing Metro to Washington

What does the project involve?

Metro to Washington is a 13km extension to the Tyne and Wear Metro system. It forms a key part of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ vision to transform local transport and create an integrated network spanning the region.

Using former railways including part of the Leamside Line, the latest proposals outline three new stations – located at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South – as well as seeing the line cross the River Wear via the Victoria viaduct, travel towards and under the A19, and connect with the current network at South Hylton.

Plans for the transformative expansion are progressing well and it is hoped that it will be operational by 2033.

“Metro to Washington is about more than public transport, it is about how we help local people into jobs by making it easier and more affordable to get around.” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.

Utilising the Leamside Line

Metro to Washington will be the first new Metro line for 30 years when it opens. It will provide a new route between the cities of Sunderland and Newcastle through Washington, making a practical and positive use of the old Leamside Line route from Pelaw to the River Wear.

The Metro to Washington extension would run along the northern section of the former Leamside Line. The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) is developing a separate business case to reinstate the southern section of the Leamside Line for heavy rail trains and the Metro to Washington route provides an important part of this development. 

Why Metro to Washington matters

Metro to Washington will:

Unlock access to highly skilled jobs and opportunities, connecting a world-leading manufacturing zone and supporting economic growth across the region. The extension will reduce travel times to work, education and key locations across the region.

Build a resilient and secure public transport solution to meet demand in Washington and the wider region, helping people feel safe and confident in a place they’re proud to call home. Until now, Washington has been one of the UK’s largest towns without a rail connection, and we’re delighted to be able to change that.

Deliver clean, green, accessible and modern integrated transport for a healthier, forward-looking North East. Access to local healthcare provision will be improved and, by taking more traffic from the region’s roads, the project will cut carbon emissions and reduce air pollution.

Latest proposals

Ideas for station locations have been put forward following a feasibility study which was completed in 2026. These locations were scored on a range of criteria and the highest scoring options will be taken forward for further development.

These options considered possible costs, impact on local residents, the environment and current infrastructure and land surveys. Factors such as connection with bus services and improving pedestrian and cycle access also played a vital role in these proposals – helping to deliver cleaner, safer, more accessible and modern transport options for the region.

Visualisations will change over time based on feedback from the engagement events and further design development.

Download a PDF version of the latest proposals.

Proposed route

The route map below shows how the extension will connect to the existing Metro system. The red line illustrates the boundary of the land that will be required to build the proposal. Included within the boundary is the track, stations, potential temporary compounds, new roads and bridleways. 

Discussions with potentially impacted landowners have already begun as part of the proposals.

Pelaw Junction

The Metro to Washington extension will connect to the existing Metro network at Pelaw and South Hylton. At Pelaw, a new track will need to be installed to allow the trains travelling from Washington to join the existing network. To facilitate the new track, the existing footbridge to Stonehills Complex will need to be replaced and the existing bridleways and access roads altered to retain existing connections.

Follingsby station

The station would sit to the south of Follingsby Lane and include ramp, lift and stair access to both platforms. Follingsby is the preferred option for a Park and Ride car park, helping people to access city centres by rail and reducing traffic on key routes.

Washington North station

Washington North station is located at the intersection of the former Leamside Line and the A1290 providing access to the Sulgrave area of Washington and connections to the local bus network. To accommodate the station, the A1290 will be diverted south over the railway where it will connect to Glover Road and Spire Road via the existing roundabout.

Washington South station

Located to the south of the former Washington station, the proposed site for Washington South is near to the Fatfield, Columbia and Teal Farm districts of Washington. Connectivity from east to west will be retained through the introduction of an accessible footbridge.

Victoria Viaduct

The current proposal reuses the historic viaduct for a twin-track railway. Masts for overhead power would be installed in a sensitive manner, as has been done on similar historic viaducts elsewhere in the UK.

Southern alignment

Once the Metro route has crossed the Victoria Viaduct, it will run on a new track alignment to the south of Coxgreen Road towards South Hylton. This avoids cutting through ancient woodland, the need for multiple large, intrusive new road bridges and disturbing a large section of a popular local bridleway.

A19

The new railway will join up with the existing bridleway before passing under the A19 at the site of the existing underpass. A new underpass will be designed to accommodate both the railway and bridleway users. Public right of way access to the playing fields and Offerton Village will be maintained by bridges over the railway.

South Hylton

A key challenge at South Hylton is the need to retain permanent vehicle access to properties located north of the railway. Two options have been shortlisted. Both would see Hylton Bank closed to vehicles, with alternative road access constructed, as well as moving the station further to the east to allow access to both platforms.

Option A – (shown by purple arrows) This option would see a new road connecting Railway Terrace to St Luke’s Road, via a tunnel constructed underneath the existing station site.

Option B – (shown by green arrows) This option would see the existing underpass at Keelman’s Road upgraded, enabling vehicle access to South Hylton via Keelman’s Lane and Claxheugh Road.

Penshaw

Connecting Penshaw to the Metro system is not a part of the current proposals for the Metro to Washington extension. However, it may provide a key point on the wider Leamside Line revival.

Get involved

Public drop-in sessions will be held in September 2026 across Washington and the surrounding area, giving local people the opportunity to hear from members of the project team about latest progress, as well as being able to provide feedback, and ask questions.

This follows several engagement events held in the summer of 2025, outlining the aims of the extension and to hear initial thoughts from the public.

There is no need to book, and you don’t have to attend for the full session. A full list of the events is shown below.

If you can’t attend a session, do not worry, all the information shared at the events will be announced publicly and available on this page.

• To give us your thoughts and feedback on the Metro to Washington project, complete this form.

• If you would like to sign up to our project newsletter, please drop us an email at: metrotowashington@nexus.org.uk

What will be shown at the sessions?

The latest route and station location proposals from the feasibility study will be shown at the sessions. The team will explain why some options scored higher than others and how the project is progressing. There will be an opportunity to leave your feedback and ask questions about the Metro to Washington extension.

Do I need to book onto a session?

No. Each of the events is drop in, so you can stay as long or as short as you need to. Our team will be on hand to explain the route and station proposals, answer your questions and log your feedback. Presentations won’t be delivered, so you don’t need to worry about arriving at a set time.

I cannot attend a session, will there be more organised?

If you can’t attend a session, do not worry, all the information shared at the events will be announced publicly and on this page. If there is enough demand for additional events at certain locations, these will be considered by the project team.

Why did my neighbour receive a flyer for the drop-in sessions when I didn’t?

Everyone is welcome to attend the public drop-in sessions. These have been promoted widely through social media, local media and at the venues where the sessions will take place.

As well as this wider publicity, flyers are being delivered to homes and businesses located close to the proposed Metro to Washington route, stations and other land needed for the project. In most cases, this includes properties within around 100 to 200 metres of the affected land. However, some additional addresses were added where appropriate to do so.

As a result, your neighbour may receive a leaflet while your address was outside the area selected for leaflet delivery. Regardless of whether you receive a flyer, you are still very welcome to attend any of the public drop-in sessions.

Making it happen

Funding and timeline

The Metro to Washington line is at the heart of the largest single investment package ever made in the North East’s transport networks. It will be the first new Metro line built for 30 years when it opens and will be built as part of a £1.85bn funding deal agreed with the Government.

Progress is already well underway. Here’s what’s happened already, and what’s planned.

June 2024 – Mayor announces funding to develop Business Case

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness put more than £8 million towards the development of an Outline Business Case, inclusive of technical design and delivery plans.

May 2025 – Appointment of Arup

We awarded a technical consultancy services framework to Arup. Through this framework, we have completed a feasibility study, undertaking surveys and will deliver an outline design for the new extension.

June 2025 – Mayor announces new Metro line in £1.85 billion funding deal

The Mayor announced the first new Metro line for 30 years will be built as part of a £1.85bn funding deal agreed with the Government.

June and July 2025 – First public engagement sessions

We held a series of public engagement events to give people the chance to meet our project team, find out more about the plans, give feedback and ask questions.

January 2026 – Government announce funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail

Government confirmed that development work on the Leamside Line will be taken forward alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail – marking a significant endorsement of the Mayor’s plans to deliver a new rail line for County Durham.

Although this is a separate piece of work from Metro to Washington, it will see services run from Ferryhill to Newcastle and connect people to the new Washington line.

April 2026 – Feasibility study completes

The feasibility study carried out by Arup was completed. Drone survey works also took place to produce more detailed survey reports to create 3D models of the route being considered.

May 2026 – Social value sessions

Social value events were held to understand and establish the projects priorities when it comes to delivering a lasting legacy in Washington and the wider area, beyond the delivery of the Metro extension. The outcome from these sessions will shape the social value strategy for the project.

June – July 2026 – Landowner engagement

Engagement began with landowners whose land or property lies within the area currently being considered for the project.

September 2026 – Public engagement sessions

The second round of engagement sessions across Washington and Sunderland will coincide with the public announcement of where the proposed station locations and route will be.