Hopes popular railway line will be expanded to Newbiggin


More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made on the Northumberland Line since it reopened

Campaigners have welcomed plans to extend a popular railway line as part of local regeneration plans.

The Northumberland Line reopened last December and there are hopes further destinations can be added including Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) believe it could be achieved by building less than one mile (1.6km) of new track.

The town has not had a rail station since 1964, when it was closed under the Beeching cuts.

Northumberland County Council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth told a meeting that both the authority and the North East Combined Authority were "committed to trying to make it work".

The announcement follows the line's strong performance since reopening. More than 700,000 passenger journeys have been made between Ashington and Newcastle in its first year - double the number originally forecast.

Dennis Fancett, chair of SENRUG, said the extension was the campaign's original vision for the line, which it first proposed two decades ago. "We've always campaigned for the line to go that far - it was part of the plan from the start."

The group said the extension, mostly on existing operational freight track line would be achievable and affordable, with only 0.8 miles of new track needed from just east of the A189 Spine Road overbridge.

SENRUG believes reopening the final stretch would bring major economic benefits, boost tourism, support local businesses and improve access to jobs and education.

It also said a station near Woodhorn Museum could be a park-and-ride hub for nearby villages such as Linton and Ellington, easing congestion.

Newbiggin's original railway station opened in 1872 and shut in 1964 when the nation's rail network was restructured.

Feasibility work on extending the line began earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Two of the lines stations - Bedlington and Northumberland Park - have not yet opened.

The county council said there were no costings at this stage, while feasibility work was ongoing.

It is great that people are using this service but the tickets are really cheap i.e. an anytime single Newcastle to Ashington (about 13 miles) is £2.60; in comparison a Didcot to Oxford (10 miles) anytime single is £8.70. 20p a mile compared with 87p a mile.

Northern is the English TOC with the highest subsidy so not sure how this is affordable, of course ideally we would like all services to be as highly subsidised.

Lets hope that as the fares rise the service continues to be used.

And I do wonder with EWR whether 2 car trains are going to be big enough.

It is great that people are using this service but the tickets are really cheap i.e. an anytime single Newcastle to Ashington (about 13 miles) is £2.60; in comparison a Didcot to Oxford (10 miles) anytime single is £8.70. 20p a mile compared with 87p a mile.

Northern is the English TOC with the highest subsidy so not sure how this is affordable, of course ideally we would like all services to be as highly subsidised.

Lets hope that as the fares rise the service continues to be used.

And I do wonder with EWR whether 2 car trains are going to be big enough.

And I do wonder with EWR whether 2 car trains are going to be big enough.

BBC news article. From a standing start, ~ 250,000 passenger journeys expected by Easter, against estimates before opening of 50,000.

Mark

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74nq19w100o

Delighted to see the announcement from Northumberland County Council that the Northumberland Line (Newcastle - Ashington) will open on Sunday 15 December.

https://twitter.com/N_landCouncil/status/1863531447702749500