Government dodges the issue of reopening Leamside railway line

John, Lord Shipley, a Liberal Democrat peer and former Leader of Newcastle City Council, asked the Government whether they are planning to re-open the Leamside railway line between Sunderland, Washington and Durham; if so, what steps they are taking to achieve this; how much progress has been made; and when they expect that line to re-open.

Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) replied : "The Government is working with local authorities and other partners to identify the best new rail projects that can unlock new housing and economic growth, ease overcrowding, meet future demand and offer good value for money.

"No immediate decisions have been made to reopen the Leamside line."

This sort of vague or non-answer and platitudes seems typical of most responses from the Department of Transport at the moment, who aren't being properly responsive to Parliamentarians trying to hold them to account on behalf of the public.