Business cases

There isn't much to say on business cases.
There never has been a successful business case for the AB&T.
Last time the govenment made a decision, it did so on the basis of costs that were artificially inflated and which included a massive sum for the Bates line, which has since been lifted.

We think there are three business cases that need to be assessed.

One is the SENRUG business case for small scale re-opening of the AB&T.

One is our case, for re-opening as part of the Metro network with high passenger volumes.

The third is the least likely case, of re-opening as an open access facility owned by a community partnership, acting as a route for alternative medium length journeys over theoretical routes that require significant engineering work - Ashington to Carlisle and Stranraer for instance, or Edinburgh to Blyth or Tynemouth.

There is a fourth case, - of a combined heritage and community railway - which also could be assessed.

If Northumberland County Council would allow an open debate, we think the Metro option would win out in terms of costs and benefits. Some people in thise debate don;t seem to want to engage with the option and examine them in public. The council could make this possible.