Residents across Washington and the surrounding area will have the opportunity to examine the latest proposals for the long-awaited Metro extension next month, as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness unveils a programme of public engagement events.
The proposed 13km extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro network represents a major milestone in efforts to improve connectivity across the North East. The scheme, which includes plans for three new stations, forms a central component of the Mayor’s vision for an integrated regional transport system under the Angel Network concept.
A total of 14 drop-in sessions will take place throughout September, allowing residents to view the latest route proposals, discuss potential station locations and provide feedback directly to project leaders from Nexus. The events follow a feasibility study completed earlier this year, which identified possible alignments and station sites for the new line.
The consultation marks the next stage of a project that has steadily gathered momentum since initial public engagement sessions were held during summer 2025. Earlier this year, social value workshops also took place, giving communities an opportunity to influence how the project delivers benefits around employment, skills development, local business growth and environmental sustainability.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
“We’re bringing the Metro to Washington and I want local people to be able to ask questions and make comments on our plans for the route and its stations at events throughout the area this September.
“We have already started work on what will be the first new Metro line for 30 years and a key part of our vision for the Angel Network, a world class transport system for local people.”
“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 – whether that’s people from Washington or travelling to the town for factories in and around Nissan.
“The route has been surveyed by engineers to identify possible locations for three new stations and I want to share that with local people to see what they think.”
The Metro to Washington project is expected to become the first new Metro line delivered in three decades. It would create a direct link between Newcastle and Sunderland via Washington, significantly improving access to employment hubs and supporting long-term economic growth across the region.
Current plans propose new stations at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South. The route would utilise the northern section of the former Leamside Line, while separate efforts continue to explore the reopening of the wider rail corridor in the future.
An outline business case is scheduled for completion in early 2027, with the first passenger services targeted to begin operating in 2033.
Paul Welford, Major Projects Director at Nexus, said:
“Following the feasibility study earlier this year, we are excited to share the latest proposals through a series of drop-in sessions. This builds on the public engagement events we carried out last year.
“We are committed to listening to local people and ensuring their views help shape the project as it develops. We are already in discussions with landowners that could be impacted and want to engage with more members of the wider community.
“The format will be informal drop-in sessions, so that people can pop in and speak to us on a one-to-one basis. We’re keen to listen to as many views as possible.”
Image credit: Nexus
