Common Sense for a mainline connection Malcolm. A metro extension would cost much, much more then a mainline connection Malcolm, overhead wires, signalling restructuring, plus the bus companies would not be happy as they would have to pull the double deckers out of service because of the height of overhead wires. Plus the connections at Newcastle and Morpeth would be taken out as Network rail would not let a metro (trams) run on the east coast mainline, Then you have cut off the Port of Blyth and Lynemouth Power station for freight trains making them very unhappy.