Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the prelude to his statement confirming HS2 will go ahead, confirmed that the final decision on the Ashington re-opening (and a number of other transport projects) will be made by The Chancellor in March. This accords with the timescale for the decision on the Transforming Cities Fund Application as previously advised to SENRUG. Meanwhile, Council Leader Peter Jackson confirmed that the Council are now looking to see whether further government funding can be accessed to permit Seaton Delaval and Bebside stations, originally omitted from Phase 1, to now be included in the initial opening – a move that SENRUG strongly supports.
