Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[swt_passenger]

A proposal to renovate one of the old Bedlington Station buildings to including a heritage based café and community space. Early days, yet, but if it turns out like the renovation of Morpeth then it will be a great addition to the line.

Bedlington train station cafe plans for derelict building

The plans are for a heritage-themed cafe in a building, which may be otherwise demolished.

www.bbc.co.uk

I note in three places in the article they refer to it as being on the ‘northbound’ side, ie the side that didn’t have a platform…

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Do we have a date yet for the opening of Newsham railway station? The online National Rail Timetable has not been updated to reflect that it did not open on 10th February

Index of /nrt/dec2024

I'd imagine that it will be announced very soon and probably early March after half term.

 

[ddavids]

I thought it was meant to happen in February

 

[Acfb]

I thought it was meant to happen in February

I saw that Google Maps and Real Time Trains expected it to open on Mon 24th Feb but now I believe it will possibly be Sunday 16th March?

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

I went thorough Newsham today at what seemed like line speed which wasn't the case beforehand.

It seems all the platforms and associated structures are complete, it is just the access roads and car parks to finish off.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2025 ==

Newsham to open in mid March and passenger numbers since opening over 110,000.

‘Now, following the opening of Ashington and Seaton Delaval stations on December 15th, Newsham Station in Blyth will remove its barriers and accept passengers from the middle of March. The exact date will be confirmed nearer the time’

‘After more than 60 years the public started using the line again before Christmas – with passengers making around 50,000 journeys in the first month. That figure has now surpassed 110,000’

Northumberland County Council - Latest Northumberland Line station to open in coming weeks

The latest station to be completed on the Northumberland Line is set to open mid March.

www.northumberland.gov.uk

 

[mrd269697]

I went thorough Newsham today at what seemed like line speed which wasn't the case beforehand.

It seems all the platforms and associated structures are complete, it is just the access roads and car parks to finish off.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2025 ==

Newsham to open in mid March and passenger numbers since opening over 110,000.

‘Now, following the opening of Ashington and Seaton Delaval stations on December 15th, Newsham Station in Blyth will remove its barriers and accept passengers from the middle of March. The exact date will be confirmed nearer the time’

‘After more than 60 years the public started using the line again before Christmas – with passengers making around 50,000 journeys in the first month. That figure has now surpassed 110,000’

Northumberland County Council - Latest Northumberland Line station to open in coming weeks

The latest station to be completed on the Northumberland Line is set to open mid March.

www.northumberland.gov.uk

These are great figures. To all nay sayers, I would just add: build it and they will come.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

These are great figures. To all nay sayers, I would just add: build it and they will come.

Indeed so. The social, economic and environmental benefits are plain to see. I hope it happens elsewhere.

There have been some big new housing estates built around Newsham. You can pick up a 4 bedroomed new build for £250k and commute to Newcastle in 20 mins.

Once more stations come into service, the units will have to be doubled up.

 

[nerdowell]

There was something in the Chronicle about them starting to investigate the extension to Newbiggin as well, can't get to it atm, i think it might just be the Town/Parish Council doing it so far, but i'd rather they kept mentioning it/at the forefront of peoples minds, even if its just cause theres an election coming up


[Edit 25/02/25] Leader of the council is saying Mid March

Latest Northumberland Line station to open in coming weeks

The latest station to be completed on the Northumberland Line is set to open mid March. After more than 60 years the public started using the line again before Christmas – with passengers making around 50,000 journeys in the first month. That figure has now surpassed 110,000. The opening of the...

www.northumberlandline.uk

 

[ddavids]

I see there has been a few cancelled trains recently is this down to shortage of trains or lack of staff

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

I see there has been a few cancelled trains recently is this down to shortage of trains or lack of staff

Maybe not a lot of RDW due to Half Term holidays?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Feb 2025 ==

Newsham Station to open on Monday March 17th.

Maybe a few hangovers if Newcastle win the League Cup the day before!

Northumberland County Council - Newsham Station opening date confirmed

The latest station to be completed on the Northumberland Line will open on Monday, March 17th.

www.northumberland.gov.uk

 

[_toommm_]

Newsham station has been authorised by the ORR ahead of its opening on 17th March:

ORR authorises new Newsham station ahead of opening to public | Office of Rail and Road

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised the new Newsham railway station ahead of its expected public opening on 17 March. The new station will provide improved connectivity as part of the Northumberland Line project.

www.orr.gov.uk

ORR authorises new Newsham station ahead of opening to public
10 March 2025
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised the new Newsham railway station ahead of its expected public opening on 17 March. The new station will provide improved connectivity as part of the Northumberland Line project.

Newsham Station is part of the wider Northumberland Line programme, which aims to enhance rail services across the region.

ORR’s authorisation of the station covers the construction of two platforms, a footbridge with stairs and lifts, waiting shelters, customer information screens, lighting, and other upgrades.

ORR’s authorisation is a key milestone in getting new, upgraded, or renewed infrastructure, such as Newsham Station, ready to open. It confirms that standards on areas like health and safety, accessibility, environmental protection, and reliability and availability have been met.

ORR has worked with Northumberland County Council and Network Rail from the outset of the project to support them through the authorisation process, ensuring that important checks and surveys were carried out.

Steve Fletcher, Deputy Director, Engineering and Asset Management at ORR, said:

This is an important step for improving rail connectivity in Northumberland, and we look forward to seeing the station open to passengers soon.

We’re pleased to have played our part in getting Newsham Station ready to open. Our team worked closely with Northumberland County Council and Network Rail to support them through the authorisation process, just as we do for new trains and infrastructure across the country.

 

[Cowley]

We’ve gone way off the topic of the Northumberland line reopening here.

Could we try and stick to that subject from here please.

Thanks


Edit: some posts have been moved; for speculation regarding increased capacity, please use the following thread:

Northumberland Line: could capacity be increased?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/northumberland-line-reopening-progress-updates.204414/ Do you think they will have to have more than 2 Carriages at certain times of the day when the next station Newsham opens next week

www.railforums.co.uk

There are various other threads relating to this line, including:

Northumberland Line: trip planning & reports

Just being nosy .. how many folk here are planning on going on the first train, or at least travelling on the first day ?

www.railforums.co.uk

Northumberland place names and pronunciations

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/northumberland-line-to-be-re-opened-to-passengers.204414/ “Bebside for Blyth” might have been an appropriate way of naming it. Its a good job they didn't go Blyth Cowpen (The much larger settlement the other side of the A189...

www.railforums.co.uk

Northumberland Line fares (including impact on Tyne & Wear Metro maximum fares)

Someone might know but does anyone know if the North East Transport tickets are valid? They're currently usable on the trains between Sunderland and Blaydon so would seem a bit of an own goal to exclude them since they'd allow interchange with buses to the stations.

www.railforums.co.uk

Should Northumberland Park (Tyne & Wear) be renamed to avoid confusion?

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/northumberland-line-to-be-re-opened-to-passengers.204414/ Going off the naming thing, but relating it back to the Northumberland Line, i see a lot of comments on Youtube and the like, saying Northumberland Park (North East) should...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

Geoff Marshall’s video report on Newsham Station, just released today:

The video covers Newsham Station, and its facilities such as TVMs, lifts and car parks, and explains the level crossing closure and replacement with a nearby road bridge. A couple of local politicians and passengers are interviewed, there’s also a side trip to Seaton Delaval station as it was not open when Geoff took part in the press tour which was before the public opening.

 

[ddavids]

Is there any news when the rest of the stations are going to open

 

[nerdowell]

Is there any news when the rest of the stations are going to open

Not yet, Bebside is the most likely next, so they'll get their Summer opening. Northumberland Park is having its platform backfilled then starting on the lift shaft, Bedlington is....i dunno haven't been up that way for a while

 

[swt_passenger]

Not yet, Bebside is the most likely next, so they'll get their Summer opening. Northumberland Park is having its platform backfilled then starting on the lift shaft, Bedlington is....i dunno haven't been up that way for a while

There’s little or nothing on the Northumberland line’s website, their newsletters sometimes give rough dates, but no updates since the February edition, (issued late in early March).

 

[kez19]

as an outsider but according to the website: https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/level-crossing-closure-at-bedlington-station-road-extended dated 3 April.

Bedlington:
The current level crossing closure at Station Road at Bedlington is unfortunately going to have to be extended due to unforeseen ground conditions.
The level crossing closure will now reopen at 7am on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure and buses will remain on their current diversionary routes until the level crossing reopens.

 

[mangyiscute]

Bedlington is....i dunno haven't been up that way for a while

I took a ride last Monday and Bedlington looked far off completion - just a mud hole barely any structures in the ground yet

 

[montyburns56]

Longer trains plan as new rail line fills up​

"He described it as a "good problem" for the £298m project where passenger numbers are on course to hit five times the original estimate.
The council thinks 250,000 journeys will have been made by Easter, against initial expectations of 50,000."

Northumberland Line longer trains plan as railway fills up

Despite only half its stations being open, passenger numbers on the new rail route exceed estimates.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Due to engineering work, the Northumberland Line will be closed from Friday 18th April to Monday 21st inclusive will rail replacement buses on.

I know that the last trains of the evening for the past few weeks have been RRB due to ongoing works at the stations and this looks like a whole weekend blockade.

 

[wilbur1985]

Is there still no news on the other stations opening?

 

[ddavids]

You would think they could give a approx date

 

[Wronskian]

In Geoff's Newsham video (linked Mar 26th above) there's an interview with the programme manager of the project, and he says:
Blyth Bebside - end of August/beginning of September
Bedlington and Northumberland Park - by the end of the year

 

[nerdowell]

Given Northumberland County Councils history of announcing opening dates and then missing them on this project, they're keeping quiet till they're sure they're sure.

 

[sturmey_archer]

Photos of Northumberland Park, taken on Monday. The crane seems surprisingly large, so I wonder if it is there to lift in something big like a prefabricated lift shaft? But once that is in the rest of the work seems straightforward, and I don’t see how it would take to the end of the year. Maybe they are just being cautious, with good reason.

The track panels are presumably to-do with the Metro tracks, although there are no crossovers there to replace.

 

[swt_passenger]

Photos of Northumberland Park, taken on Monday. The crane seems surprisingly large, so I wonder if it is there to lift in something big like a prefabricated lift shaft? But once that is in the rest of the work seems straightforward, and I don’t see how it would take to the end of the year. Maybe they are just being cautious, with good reason.

The track panels are presumably to-do with the Metro tracks, although there are no crossovers there to replace.

They mentioned in a news item a few weeks ago, in March, that they were about to put in the lift shaft sections, and stairs:

Our planned works for the next few months will be focused on preparation for the lift shaft and the staircase installation. We will continue our focus around the Algernon Drive bridge area where we will finish work to the structure foundations.
Following on from that, we will install some temporary scaffolding to enable us to remove the parapet wall sections required on the existing bridge and prepare it for placement of the lift and the stairs, which are being manufactured off-site.

Overnight Construction Works at Northumberland Park

Following our previous update from December 2024, we have now finished working on the front platform pre-cast units and have installed the underground utility ducting and drainage system, which included a below ground attenuation tank to help with the management of surface water. We have also...

www.northumberlandline.uk

 

[edwin_m]

The crane seems surprisingly large, so I wonder if it is there to lift in something big like a prefabricated lift shaft?

Could be, but a large crane can also lift a smaller load at a greater distance, so it may be just to lift general stuff onto the platform where they can't get anything any closer because of the flats in the background.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Northumberland County Council - Milestone reached as 250,000th passenger journey made on Northumberland Line

Passengers who have made more than 250,000 journeys on Northumberland Line services are being reminded they can beat the queues for tickets by buying online.

www.northumberland.gov.uk

Northern said the major milestone was reached this week, after it began running passenger trains on the line in December, for the first time in 60 years.

Services call at Newcastle, Manors and new stations in Seaton Delaval, Newsham and Ashington, with a journey along the entire route taking around 35 minutes and a single fare costing no more than £3.

Almost 27,000 journeys were recorded during the busiest week (March 23 to March 30). That included more than 8,000 trips that were made on the day Newcastle United celebrated their Carabao Cup win with an open top bus tour.

Ticket vending machines at the new stations have been in high demand, particularly during weekends and school holidays. As a result, staff are being sent to restock the machine in Ashington twice a week.

 

[och aye]

It's great to see the reopening of the line to passenger services doing well. It's just a shame it's taken so many years for it happen! Well done to the tireless campaigners over the years to make this service come to fruition.

 

[swt_passenger]

Yesterday they added a news item to the Northumberland Line website about progress at Bedlington with 3 pictures showing platform prefabricated concrete units installed on the down line, it looks like the up side is a more conventional trackside wall to be infilled behind?

And there’s also the 250,000 passenger story, there has already been a link to the Northumberland Council version.

Platform Progress at Bedlington
1 day ago
Over the Easter weekend, trains were replaced by buses on the Northumberland Line to allow for platform construction at Bedlington to take place, along with other works including drainage installation and adding a new under track crossing for a high voltage cable.

Platform Progress at Bedlington

Over the Easter weekend, trains were replaced by buses on the Northumberland Line to allow for platform construction at Bedlington to take place, along with other works including drainage installation and adding a new under track crossing for a high voltage cable.We appreciate that closing the...

www.northumberlandline.uk