Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[zwk500]

Yes I was thinking of the last May/June situation, but it‘s going to be a similar process. I think changes made by STP modification can only be done for a set period as well, which has also led to a few false dawns as they change gradually over the 6 or 7 month period.

There's no reason the changes can't be done for the entire timetable if the TOC asks for it. Once the passenger service date is known, I'd be very surprised if it didn't have the changes made from that date to the end of the timetable in one go. As they're already class 2 services, all that needs doing is knocking the Q out and changing a piece of header code data to advertise the trains in downstream journey planners.

 

[androdas]

I have noticed as well the route learning trips have become a little more sporadic over the last week as to whether they run or not, with only 3 of the trips to Ashington and back running today. Hopefully this is a sign Northern are starting to run out of drivers that are still needed to be trained.

 

[Anvil1984]

I have noticed as well the route learning trips have become a little more sporadic over the last week as to whether they run or not, with only 3 of the trips to Ashington and back running today. Hopefully this is a sign Northern are starting to run out of drivers that are still needed to be trained.

That optimism is a little bit misplaced, there’s still quite a lot of drivers in the queue

 

[androdas]

That optimism is a little bit misplaced, there’s still quite a lot of drivers in the queue

It seems so as every path has run so far today

 

[Haywain]

It's good to see that preparations are in place - I saw this on the side of a (rail replacement) bus from Darlington to Thornaby this morning:

 

[androdas]

I just hope the plan is not to stick this on before the stations are fully complete and pretend they have delivered. Sadly it is something that wouldnt put past NCC.

 

[nerdowell]

I actually laughed out loud. Exactly what you said, Androdas.

Maybe they'll put a shuttle on between Bebside and Bedlington to Newsham or Ashington

 

[androdas]

If they put it on after Ashington, Newsham and Seaton Deleval opens to serve the stations that are not ready that would make sense. However if it runs without a train it will just be a bus of fresh air sitting in traffic and taking the most convoluted possible route to Newcastle.

 

[nerdowell]

Update on conductor training, a lot of mentions of the December opening, so hopefully the start of promotions
https://www.northumberlandline.uk/p...rence-to-locals-say-conductors-training-to-wo

The conductor training programme is well underway as Northern is getting ready to operate trains on the line when it reopens to passengers in December – for the first time in 60 years – following a £298.5 million redevelopment.

The train operator has recruited 18 new conductors, who will be based at depots in Newcastle and Ashington, but there is a plan to ensure 82 are qualified to work on the line.

The new recruits need to undergo three months of intensive training, learning how to assist customers and keep them safe, sell tickets, manage disruption and deal with emergencies.

 

[Swanley 59]

Tweet from Northumberland County Council about service start date

We're working hard on getting the line and stations approved for the passenger service to start in December and we'll be announcing a date as soon as those approvals are confirmed, but it's likely to be short notice between an announcement and services starting

Someone on X asked about a start date to services. Northumberland CC replied with the above.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Tweet from Northumberland County Council about service start date



Someone on X asked about a start date to services. Northumberland CC replied with the above.

Seeing as they've had 6mths longer you would expect them to be not running down to the wire.

 

[androdas]

Thing is its only going to be around half finished anyway if it opens next month, Bedlington, Bebside and Northumberland Park have already been pushed back to next year (Maybe December 2025 for Bedlington) plus Newsham has a planning variation in place to open before the car parks are finished. Car parks at a few of the stations have already been scaled back and the original plan was for it all to be finished in December 2023.

Im not complaining though as this has been a very long time coming and will be fantastic for the area I just feel maybe the council overpromised and central government (Who provided most of the cash) are starting to be a little impatient to see something actually delivered.

Oh and there are elections in Northumberland later in the year but im sure that has nothing to do with it

 

[A S Leib]

How likely is it that some people would drive from places like Alnwick to Ashington rather than using Alnmouth? £6 return and 2 tph seems preferable to £16 and hour-long gaps, even if petrol (and parking?) wipes out most of the cost. I suppose most people driving that far would decide to just drive all the way to Newcastle though.

 

[Killingworth]

How likely is it that some people would drive from places like Alnwick to Ashington rather than using Alnmouth? £6 return and 2 tph seems preferable to £16 and hour-long gaps, even if petrol (and parking?) wipes out most of the cost. I suppose most people driving that far would decide to just drive all the way to Newcastle though.

I'd opt for driving into Newcastle if an Alnmouth fast train didn't fit my needs. Some might consider parking near a Metro station rather than parking in the city centre or at Ashington. You still have to get from Central to where you want to be.

The A1 has its faults but it's a fairly quick road. Those living south of Alnmouth might go to Morpeth, certainly until the new route proves itself. Ashington does have lots of parking.

 

[A S Leib]

Campaign group urges clarity on railway start date

A campaign group is urging clarification on the start date for a new railway line.

Operator Northern Trains has been advising passengers that the new Northumberland Line between Newcastle and Ashington will run from an unspecified date in December.

Northumberland County Council, which is managing the project, says it is still on track for a "phased opening" in December, but has not given a date.

The South East Northumberland Rail User Group (Senrug) says knowing when trains will start to run would allow people to make their Christmas travel plans.

 

[nerdowell]

Campaign group urges clarity on railway start date

The thing is, Bedlington and Blyth Bebside are on the National Rail journey planner too, only Newsham and Northumberland Park aren't, could be someting hasn't been updated correctly and/or completely forgot to add Newsham, perhaps?

 

[Swanley 59]

With the start of the Winter timetable, services have started to appear in the National Rail timetable from Sunday 15th December. If it runs, the first service will be the 7:57 AM from Newcastle to Ashington, with one intermediate stop at Seaton Deleval.

Whilst it is disappointing that services may start with only two of the six stations open, Northumberland County Council, Network Rai and Northern Trainsl must surely be keen to meet the December deadline, if only to avoid the embarrassment of having to explain to the public why another high-profile project has not been delivered. Nevertheless, the secrecy that surrounds the launch date does nothing to inspire confidence.

 

[androdas]

Posted on Newcastle Skyscrapercity by user "Anvil1984" (assume they are the same user that posts here), obviously messroom gossip is very speculative so taken with a caveat.

From messroom gossip and management chatter, Newsham won’t be open til February but that’s not official. Expect (barring some stakeholder / management specials) the line to open on timetable change day with just one intermediate stop at Seaton Delaval​

I would imagine if this is true the silence from the council will be them trying to work out how best to land this given the absolute traffic choas the Newsham station construction is causing accross Blyth.

Link to post on SkyscraperCity: https://www.skyscrapercity.com/thre...newcastle-and-the-north-east.1365155/page-228

​

 

[A S Leib]

The Chronicle is reporting that next month is still when Ashington's expected to open.

The Northumberland Line remains on schedule ahead of its grand opening to the public next month.


While no specific opening date has yet been announced, the team behind the project has confirmed that three of the line's stations will open as planned in December.

It's following the most recent schedule, but I wouldn't call "half a year late and half-delivered" on schedule.

 

[Killingworth]

We must be getting very close now.

SENRUG, The South East Northumberland Rail User Group, have received an offer from Northern for their members to have a free preview ride on one of the special staff training trains running on the line prior to the formal opening. https://www.senrug.co.uk/

Just to be clear, these special trains will start at Newcastle Station, run to Ashington and then back to Newcastle. Train doors will not be opened en route, there will be no ability to get off (or on) at any of the stations, you will have to stay on board the train until it returns to Newcastle. You would need to make your own way to Newcastle, and then back home after the Northumberland Line ride, at your own expense.

The dates / times for the special trains are (with more availability for the 4th December date) are as follows:

Wednesday 27th November leaving Newcastle at approx 10:46

Wednesday 27th November leaving Newcastle at approx 12:17

Wednesday 4th December leaving Newcastle at approx 10:46

Wednesday 4th December leaving Newcastle at approx 12:17

There may be some slight changes to start times, to reflect operational requirements, in this case you will be advised by Northern directly, but please make sure you are able to get to Newcastle station up to 40 minutes before the start time stated. You should in any event be at Newcastle Station 15 minutes before the confirmed start time. Each round trip will take around 75 minutes.

We are able to offer up to 2 places per SENRUG Membership, but capacity on each train is limited to around 50 guests per train, and Northern are extending the offer to some other people as well, not just SENRUG members, so places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

 

[duffield]

We must be getting very close now.

SENRUG, The South East Northumberland Rail User Group, have received an offer from Northern for their members to have a free preview ride on one of the special staff training trains running on the line prior to the formal opening. https://www.senrug.co.uk/

I anticipate a sudden surge in SENRUG membership applications.

 

[carlosfandango]

Tickets available on National Rail website from 15th December

Not on Northern yet though...

 

[duffield]

Tickets available on National Rail website from 15th December

Not on Northern yet though...

Seems ludicrously cheap! £2.60 for a offpeak single for the 37min journey to Ashington (£3.00 for anytime). Is this an introductory offer to get people using the service?

 

[wilbers]

Seems ludicrously cheap! £2.60 for a offpeak single for the 37min journey to Ashington (£3.00 for anytime). Is this an introductory offer to get people using the service?

It would seem to be the normal prices. They aren't doing the thing where a single costs 10p less than a return like on many other lines.

Northumberland County Council - Affordable fares for Northumberland Line announced

Northern will offer a range of affordable fares to customers on the new Northumberland Line, ensuring they pay no more than £3 for a single journey along the entire route.

www.northumberland.gov.uk

The maximum peak-time single fare, for the full line from Ashington to Newcastle, is £3 and a return trip costs £6. An off-peak single for the same journey is £2.60 and a return is £5.20.

..also no more than £6.20 to anywhere in the Tyne & Wear metro area.

Integrated Fares for Metro & Northumberland Line

The Northumberland Line Fares will have two options as we'll have integrated fares with Metro via their Pop Cards and customers will also be able to buy rail only tickets for travel on the line and onto the national rail network.Our integrated fares with Metro were agreed by the Joint Transport...

www.northumberlandline.uk

 

[A S Leib]

Seems ludicrously cheap! £2.60 for a offpeak single for the 37min journey to Ashington (£3.00 for anytime). Is this an introductory offer to get people using the service?

It's a shorter distance than South Hylton to Airport (all-zones Metro single), and that's £3.40 single / £5 daily cap for adults.

 

[duffield]

It's a shorter distance than South Hylton to Airport (all-zones Metro single), and that's £3.40 single / £5 daily cap for adults.

For comparison, here in the east midlands the six minute journey from Nottingham to Beeston costs £2.90.

 

[The exile]

For comparison, here in the east midlands the six minute journey from Nottingham to Beeston costs £2.90.

Or an eleven minute journey on the 10th biggest flow outside London for £9.70 CDS.

 

[zwk500]

For comparison, here in the east midlands the six minute journey from Nottingham to Beeston costs £2.90.

The four minute journey from Wolverton to Milton Keynes Central costs £3.80 anytime single (£6.90 return)

 

[A S Leib]

I know that the station's in the village of Bebside, but considering how small it seems, is the name of Blyth Bebside more to prevent confusion with Blythe Bridge than to say that it's in Bebside?

 

[edwin_m]

I know that the station's in the village of Bebside, but considering how small it seems, is the name of Blyth Bebside more to prevent confusion with Blythe Bridge than to say that it's in Bebside?

To make clear it isn't actually in the middle of Blyth?