The Northumberland line [1] began service on Sunday, 15 December 2024, to great fanfare. It initially connects Newcastle with Ashington and Seaton Delaval, with passengers able to use the service for the first time in 60 years. The railway line closed to passengers in 1964 under the Beeching cuts [2]. Since then, only freight trains have continued to use the line, primarily serving Lynemouth Power Station. The lack of passenger railway services has contributed to traffic congestion in the local area, as car and bus travel were the only means of travel.
With the railway reopening, there is now a half-hourly service from Mondays to Saturdays along the 18-mile route, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. On Sundays, there is a train every hour. Only two new stations have opened so far. However, four stations are due to open this year [1] at Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham and Northumberland Park. Northumberland Park has connections to the Tyne and Wear Metro.
I was on the inaugural public passenger service from Newcastle to Ashington and back, which departed from Newcastle at 07:57 and from Ashington at 08:36. I took a video of the full journey on the inaugural train [3]. Later that day, I also took videos of full journeys on trains in both directions [4][5].
Suburban rail is so important. Londoners take it for granted but it’s often been closed down elsewhere. Focus tends to be on the InterCity routes but this solution of just being able to get into town (the town!) matters too.
well I was on it months ago when the works were still ongoing 😎 granted we couldn’t go all the way between Newcastle and Ashington but Morpeth is the next best thing (?)
Are you Geoff Marshall in real life?
It just so happens that I’ve been listening a lot to the song The Slow Train by Flanders and Swann yesterday and today, which is an ode to all the stations closed by the Beeching report, written contemporaneously. I find it very moving because it’s so mournful. So I’m especially interested to hear this news that one of the old lines is getting a new life.
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The Northumberland line [1] began service on Sunday, 15 December 2024, to great fanfare. It initially connects Newcastle with Ashington and Seaton Delaval, with passengers able to use the service for the first time in 60 years. The railway line closed to passengers in 1964 under the Beeching cuts [2]. Since then, only freight trains have continued to use the line, primarily serving Lynemouth Power Station. The lack of passenger railway services has contributed to traffic congestion in the local area, as car and bus travel were the only means of travel.
With the railway reopening, there is now a half-hourly service from Mondays to Saturdays along the 18-mile route, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. On Sundays, there is a train every hour. Only two new stations have opened so far. However, four stations are due to open this year [1] at Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham and Northumberland Park. Northumberland Park has connections to the Tyne and Wear Metro.
I was on the inaugural public passenger service from Newcastle to Ashington and back, which departed from Newcastle at 07:57 and from Ashington at 08:36. I took a video of the full journey on the inaugural train [3]. Later that day, I also took videos of full journeys on trains in both directions [4][5].
[1] https://www.northumberlandline.uk
[2] https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/north-and-east/the-northumberland-line-project/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDxxMwjPNCQ
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVjYR2g6Qiw
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO3jGeM-W7k
Suburban rail is so important. Londoners take it for granted but it’s often been closed down elsewhere. Focus tends to be on the InterCity routes but this solution of just being able to get into town (the town!) matters too.
well I was on it months ago when the works were still ongoing 😎 granted we couldn’t go all the way between Newcastle and Ashington but Morpeth is the next best thing (?)
Are you Geoff Marshall in real life?
It just so happens that I’ve been listening a lot to the song The Slow Train by Flanders and Swann yesterday and today, which is an ode to all the stations closed by the Beeching report, written contemporaneously. I find it very moving because it’s so mournful. So I’m especially interested to hear this news that one of the old lines is getting a new life.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OHD2uCpfU
I’ve spent the last 4 years on and off working on this project, exciting to see it come off!
Ashington is amazing. Like a giant human zoo.
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