Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[vic-rijrode]

If that’s what they call a “Metro Gold Card” it will not be valid. Please see the second linked article in post #952.

I do not believe the Bus Pass is a "Gold Card" as such, but probably is treated in much the same way. I do understand that Railcards will give a discount on the normal prices.

 

[swt_passenger]

I do not believe the Bus Pass is a "Gold Card" as such, but probably is treated in much the same way. I do understand that Railcards will give a discount on the normal prices.

Is your bus pass an ENCTS card, ie an older persons national bus pass? If so I’m going by this page where they clearly refer to
the add on as a Metro Gold Card:
https://www.nexus.org.uk/ticket-information/pop/metro-gold-card

Not to be confused with the Gold Card benefit that comes with National Rail annual season tickets in the south.

I think the underlying problem will be that Tyne and Wear and Northumberland are different local authorities for ENCTS purposes.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Is your bus pass an ENCTS card, ie an older persons national bus pass? If so I’m going by this page where they clearly refer to
the add on as a Metro Gold Card:
https://www.nexus.org.uk/ticket-information/pop/metro-gold-card

Not to be confused with the Gold Card benefit that comes with National Rail annual season tickets in the south.

I think the underlying problem will be that Tyne and Wear and Northumberland are different local authorities for ENCTS purposes.

Right, it is an "older person's" bus pass - perish the thought. Thanks for the info!

I'll just have to cough up the £3 odd to go to Ashington and back...

 

[androdas]

Newsham road bridge, which needs to open before Newsham crossing can be closed and the southern half of the line reopened, is now due to open early evening on the 1st August.

We're now expecting the new road bridge at Newsham to open to traffic in the early evening of Thursday 1st August.
When the bridge opens, the traffic on the A1061 South Newsham Road will be diverted over the bridge and the level crossing will close to road traffic and pedestrians.

Newsham Road Bridge Opening Date

We're now expecting the new road bridge at Newsham to open to traffic in the early evening of Thursday 1st August.When the bridge opens, the traffic on the A1061 South Newsham Road will be diverted over the bridge and the level crossing will close to road traffic and pedestrians.This will also...

www.northumberlandline.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

Just checked RTT and there’s an STP class 3 service been up loaded, allows for test running for most of the day on Monday. Frequency is somewhat variable - although there’s 3 trains in 90 mins for a period late morning:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington all day on 05/08/2024

Train information at Ashington all day on 05/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[androdas]

Blog post from the SE Northumberland Rail User Group website who attended a public meeting suggests construction at Bedlington expected to take until September 2025 with a further 3 months for testing & regulatory clearance etc. So that would take it up to Christmas 2025 at the earliest. It was mentioned decisions could be taken to speed it up but given the recent announcements around lack of cash from the chancellor that does seem unlikely.

July 25, 2024 Dennis Fancett

I was staggered and aghast to find out how far behind Bedlington station has slipped. I was originally advised it would be a month or so behind the main Northumberland Line opening. This now seems to be at least a year. At the Project Team / Residents Liaison meeting Monday night (22nd July) we were told construction is now earmarked for completion by September 2025 – and that’s provided no further unexpected delays are encountered. Then there’s a regulatory process, ie gaining approval the station is safe etc, that could take typically 3 months. That puts it at Christmas 2025 by my book. Although I did hear the phrase “unless decisions are taken to speed things up”. Presumably, more money means things can go faster.

Full article: https://www.senrug.co.uk/blog/index.php/2024/07/25/bedlington-moves-backwards/

 

[swt_passenger]

The new road bridge over Newsham station has opened last night as previously announced, level crossing will now be fully closed. Photos suggest the level crossing had already been partially dismantled, so I expect that the bridge delay is definitely what was stopping test and freight trains from running.

link to photos:

Newsham's New Road Bridge Is Open

We're delighted to announce that the new road bridge over the Northumberland Line on the A1061 South Newsham Road in Blyth is now open.Newsham Road Bridge opensThe new bridge opened in the evening of Thursday 1st August and the level crossing has now closed.

www.northumberlandline.uk

There’s also a summary of the current progress:

A raft of major milestones have been reached on the Northumberland Line this week, meaning the service will be up and running later this year.

The opening of the new Newsham Roadbridge on the A1061 in Blyth on August 1st means the new state-of-the art signalling system can be completed and all the new track installed along the route can be used – with passenger trains starting test-runs for the first time in over 60 years.

The coming days will also see the installation of the cycle bridge over the A189 connecting northern Blyth to Blyth Bebside station, another huge and key piece of infrastructure.

And on Thursday 31st July the Palmersville underpass opened for public use. This connects the public right of way either side of the future Northumberland Lines, removing the requirement for pedestrians to cross the railway, providing safe and convenient access for walkers and cyclists.

Major milestones reached as rail scheme reaches final stages

A raft of major milestones have been reached on the Northumberland Line this week, meaning the service will be up and running later this year. The opening of the new Newsham Roadbridge on the A1061 in Blyth on August 1st means the new state-of-the art signalling system can be completed and all...

www.northumberlandline.uk

 

[androdas]

Its also buried in the article that the project target is now December rather than "Summer 2024" - citing weather related issues.

Due to weather related impact to construction, a new target window for passenger services starting is December 2024, although every partner in the project is working hard to allow the line to open ahead of this.

The banner on the website has been changed as well:

 

[swt_passenger]

Its also buried in the article that the project target is now December rather than "Summer 2024" - citing weather related issues.

The banner on the website has been changed as well:

View attachment 162887

I completely missed that bit about December, didn’t read the piece until the end, and also missed the colourful banner on the home page, probably because when I use Google it takes me straight to the news section.

 

[nerdowell]

Already said elsewhere, not surprised by this. Seeing the progress pics they posted last week kind of gave the game away that Newsham and especially Delaval were nowhere near completion.

 

[zwk500]

Appears training runs have started on the line: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:N25835/2024-08-05/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[ainsworth74]

And via Neil Blagburn of AECOM's LinkedIn we have a picture of the train!



(Picture shows 158851 at Ashington)

Train travels from Newcastle to Ashington for the first time in 60 years!

The Northumberland Line arguably reaches its biggest milestone yet. The successful signalling commissioning at the weekend by Siemens means all of the rail infrastructure constructed over the last 2 years has been brought into use allowing Northern to commence driver route learning on the line.

We're now on the final leg to restoring passenger services and it feels like we've climbed a mountain to get here. My thanks to all the people in Network Rail, CRSA, Siemens, AMCO, AECOM, Northumberland County Council (and many other delivery partners) who have worked tirelessly to make this ambitious scheme a reality.

Great Day!

Neil Blagburn on LinkedIn: Train travels from Newcastle to Ashington for the first time in 60 years!…

Train travels from Newcastle to Ashington for the first time in 60 years! The Northumberland Line arguably reaches its biggest milestone yet. The successful…

www.linkedin.com

 

[androdas]

Fantastic to see regular passenger trains running on the line today, albeit without passengers for the time being, after being talked about for the last 30 years at least.

It looks like there are 2 training diagrams each day one that starts as 3T13 from Heaton and one that starts as 3T15 from Heaton, each doing various moves between Newcastle, Ashington and Morpeth until around 10/11pm. Its the 3T15 one thats running today and I suppose it will depend on crew availability & training needs weather one, both or neither diagram run.

Another important tick in the box towards reopening.

 

[nerdowell]

For all my thirty odd years theres been talks of this coming back into use, to see an actual train at an almost complete station is a bit surreal, they actually did it lol God help me when i'm actually on one haha
Thanks for sharing that Ainsworth I've screenshot the post and put it on SSC North East Rail thread and credited you, hope this is okay, let me know if not

 

[swt_passenger]

As of 1500 all the planned runs have happened so far today, most seem on time to within a minute or two:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington all day on 06/08/2024

Train information at Ashington all day on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

As of 1500 all the planned runs have happened so far today, most seem on time to within a minute or two:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington all day on 06/08/2024

Train information at Ashington all day on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Lol right after you said that the rest were cancelled

 

[swt_passenger]

Lol right after you said that the rest were cancelled

Kiss of death? Maybe it will last longer today…

I was just wondering why the second train off Ashington goes via Morpeth?

Also, I presume as well as traincrew route learning they also need to test the impact of up and down services on the rest of the existing ECML traffic especially at Benton Junction, and the reliability of entering and leaving the various single track sections. But checking either of those points doesn’t require the full 3 train service, just running half an hour apart?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Kiss of death? Maybe it will last longer today…

RTT is showing allocations for all of today's booked runs with 158844 and 158853 out, so they'll probably all run.

 

[Anvil1984]

Kiss of death? Maybe it will last longer today…

I was just wondering why the second train off Ashington goes via Morpeth?

Also, I presume as well as traincrew route learning they also need to test the impact of up and down services on the rest of the existing ECML traffic especially at Benton Junction, and the reliability of entering and leaving the various single track sections. But checking either of those points doesn’t require the full 3 train service, just running half an hour apart?

Just a random point but these currently aren’t normal traincrew route learning runs but for managers at present. No current start date for regular traincrew. Some trips will have to go via Morpeth as that line is being used for ECS trips

 

[edwin_m]

Also, I presume as well as traincrew route learning they also need to test the impact of up and down services on the rest of the existing ECML traffic especially at Benton Junction, and the reliability of entering and leaving the various single track sections. But checking either of those points doesn’t require the full 3 train service, just running half an hour apart?

They should have worked that out by simulation a long time back. If the timetable doesn't work, now would be an embarrassingly late time to find that out.

 

[swt_passenger]

They should have worked that out by simulation a long time back. If the timetable doesn't work, now would be an embarrassingly late time to find that out.

Oh sure, but at the same time there must be an element of proving or reassurance that it also works in the real world? Is there also an aspect of signallers gaining hands on familiarity, although do they also they have some sort of a training facility in the ROC as well?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Blog post from the SE Northumberland Rail User Group website who attended a public meeting suggests construction at Bedlington expected to take until September 2025 with a further 3 months for testing & regulatory clearance etc. So that would take it up to Christmas 2025 at the earliest. It was mentioned decisions could be taken to speed it up but given the recent announcements around lack of cash from the chancellor that does seem unlikely.


Full article: https://www.senrug.co.uk/blog/index.php/2024/07/25/bedlington-moves-backwards/

beggars disbelief that ist takes 3mths to get regulatory approval for a simple two platform stn. A week would be excessive. The industry really needs to get a grip if it wants to demonstrate it should be receiving taxpayers money over more worthy causes in the public sector.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

beggars disbelief that ist takes 3mths to get regulatory approval for a simple two platform stn. A week would be excessive. The industry really needs to get a grip if it wants to demonstrate it should be receiving taxpayers money over more worthy causes in the public sector.

That'll be six weeks in the in-tray once an 'opening approval' is requested, one week of actual tests, six weeks in a different in-tray pending sign-off.

I've commented before on just how many million miles of subsidised bus service you could get for the cost of a Network Rail lampost! (exaggeration applies). People don't like the cost/value comparisons, exceptionalism applies, railways are 'different'.

 

[zwk500]

beggars disbelief that ist takes 3mths to get regulatory approval for a simple two platform stn. A week would be excessive. The industry really needs to get a grip if it wants to demonstrate it should be receiving taxpayers money over more worthy causes in the public sector.

Do you know the full list of what they inspect and test, to give us some context of why it should take less than a week to test and go through the Quality process?

Although for comparison - Anfield's new Main Stand Upper tier saw 50% capacity in November 2023 and full Capacity 4 months later. Wembley was handed over to the FA on 9 March 2007 and saw formal opening on 19 May for the FA Cup final. Arguably (and I would certainly argue!) a simple 2-platform station should take less time than a major sporting arena but there are similar concerns about fire safety & Evacuation, accessibility requirements, PA & Information systems and so on. So maybe the railway isn't 'different', it's just that everything in the UK takes forever?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Do you know the full list of what they inspect and test, to give us some context of why it should take less than a week to test and go through the Quality process?

Although for comparison - Anfield's new Main Stand Upper tier saw 50% capacity in November 2023 and full Capacity 4 months later. Wembley was handed over to the FA on 9 March 2007 and saw formal opening on 19 May for the FA Cup final. Arguably (and I would certainly argue!) a simple 2-platform station should take less time than a major sporting arena but there are similar concerns about fire safety & Evacuation, accessibility requirements, PA & Information systems and so on. So maybe the railway aren't 'different'?

Item 9,494: Thickness of galvanisation on screws affixing fence planking to support rails. Confirm and check for scratching. Confirm supplier is on approved list, confirm specification dispatched to, and returned signed by supplier. Confirm production batch number of screws received. Confirm sample test undertaken for batch.

Or something similar.

I was once involved in a sub-contract of a contract for part of the Trident Submarines (a very basic metal frame), it had to be stamped by a team of inspectors (with a lion, like eggs perhaps) before it was loaded onto the lorry for delivery.

 

[Northerngirl]

I was once involved in a sub-contract of a contract for part of the Trident Submarines (a very basic metal frame), it had to be stamped by a team of inspectors (with a lion, like eggs perhaps) before it was loaded onto the lorry for delivery.

I bet they still got it done in less time than nr would spend to decide what stamp was going to be used this month

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Do you know the full list of what they inspect and test, to give us some context of why it should take less than a week to test and go through the Quality process?

Although for comparison - Anfield's new Main Stand Upper tier saw 50% capacity in November 2023 and full Capacity 4 months later. Wembley was handed over to the FA on 9 March 2007 and saw formal opening on 19 May for the FA Cup final. Arguably (and I would certainly argue!) a simple 2-platform station should take less time than a major sporting arena but there are similar concerns about fire safety & Evacuation, accessibility requirements, PA & Information systems and so on. So maybe the railway isn't 'different', it's just that everything in the UK takes forever?

No problem ensuring the equipment is functioning as required but thats a couple of days work and actually much of it could be planned in why the station is in final stages of construction. If the railway wants to make itself relevant it needs to challenge this nonsense so costs are affordable.

 

[androdas]

Im not saying it doesnt show lact of efficiency but it is not unique to the railway, its a problem accross the public sector (which even though the railway likes to pretend it is isnt public sector that is where the cash come from) but that is probably a topic for another thread.

What I feel would be useful now the line is available to Northern for testing is to see what would happen if they tried to run a class 156 on the diagram with their slower acceleration. It is likely going to have to happen at some point if there are no class 158s available for any reason.

 

[takno]

Im not saying it doesnt show lact of efficiency but it is not unique to the railway, its a problem accross the public sector (which even though the railway likes to pretend it is isnt public sector that is where the cash come from) but that is probably a topic for another thread.

What I feel would be useful now the line is available to Northern for testing is to see what would happen if they tried to run a class 156 on the diagram with their slower acceleration. It is likely going to have to happen at some point if there are no class 158s available for any reason.

It's endemic across the private sector as well, which suggests it's really just a factor of human nature and the planning tools at our disposal.

It's also just a reflection of the actual value of the new opening - there isn't a huge pool of under-employed inspectors waiting to jump on the task of certifying the station, and it's not worth the significant cost of hiring such a pool, so the optimal choice sometimes is to just leave finished work to wait a while

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It's endemic across the private sector as well, which suggests it's really just a factor of human nature and the planning tools at our disposal.

It's also just a reflection of the actual value of the new opening - there isn't a huge pool of under-employed inspectors waiting to jump on the task of certifying the station, and it's not worth the significant cost of hiring such a pool, so the optimal choice sometimes is to just leave finished work to wait a while

There aren't exactly that many new stations being opened but other operators have achieved this in a timely manner. This needs a bit of leadership where Northumberland Council put a rocket up the proverbial of NR and Northern to get it sorted reminding them of how much money they've put into this scheme already.