Latest Metro to Washington public drop-in sessions announced

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has announced engagement events next month for local residents to see how the project to bring the Metro to Washington is moving forward, including possible station locations along the route.

The 13km extension to the Tyne and Wear Metro system, with three proposed new stations, forms a key part of Mayor Kim’s vision to transform local transport and create an integrated network spanning the region.

A total of 14 public drop-in sessions will be held in September across Washington and the surrounding area, giving local people the opportunity to hear from members of the project team at Nexus about latest progress, as well as being able to provide feedback, and ask questions.

It will give the public a chance to see more details of the proposed route and suggested station locations, following a feasibility study carried out this year. This follows several engagement events in the summer of 2025, outlining the aims of the extension and to hear thoughts from the public.

Social value events were also held earlier this year for residents to highlight the benefits they want to see for local people and businesses, jobs and training and the environment.

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.”

An outline business case for the project will be completed at the start of 2027, and it is hoped the first Metro trains on the new line will run 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.”

Metro to Washington will be the first new Metro line for 30 years when it opens, providing a new route between the cities of Sunderland and Newcastle through Washington.

The extension includes new proposed stations at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South. The Metro to Washington extension would run along the northern section of the former Leamside Line – with work also underway to re-open the railway line in full in the future.

The public can find out more about the project, join the project mailing list and also give their views on the Metro to Washington on the project page.

The full list of Metro to Washington public engagement events: 

• Tuesday 1 September – 4-6pm: Washington Millennium Centre, Concord

• Saturday 5 September – 1.30pm – 4pm: Washington Arts Centre, Biddick Lane
   

• Monday 7 September – 12.30pm – 4.30pm: Fitzgeralds, Wardley

• Wednesday 9 September – 1.30pm-4pm: Tansy Centre, South Hylton

• Friday 11 September – 1.30pm-4.30pm: Teal Farm Pub

• Saturday 12 September – 11am – 2pm: North East Land, Sea, Air Museum, Washington
   

• Tuesday 15 September – 5.30pm – 7pm: Sunderland College, City Campus

• Wednesday 16 September –10am-1pm: Washington Arts Centre, Biddick Lane

• Saturday 19 September – 10.30am – 1.30pm: The Galleries, Washington
   

• Tuesday 22 September – 5.30pm-7pm: Columbia Community Centre, Washington

• Wednesday 23 September – 10am-12pm: Tansy Centre, South Hylton

• Friday 25 September – 8.30am – 10.30am and 5pm-7pm: Pelaw Metro Station

• Saturday 26 September – 10.30am-1.30pm: The Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland