Northumberland Line: trip planning & reports

[Joe Paxton]

[...]
This is a line into the most populous part of Northumberland and I have no doubt it will be a great success.

A great development!

 

[Kite159]

Agreed, I can see it being as popular as Okehampton reopening. Half-hourly train service taking ~45 minutes from what seems to be central Ashington compared to ~55 minutes for the bus (not taking into account any traffic delays on the roads)

 

[rg177]

Agreed, I can see it being as popular as Okehampton reopening. Half-hourly train service taking ~45 minutes from what seems to be central Ashington compared to ~55 minutes for the bus (not taking into account any traffic delays on the roads)

More like 35 minutes in most cases (there was an evening service today which has a rather naff path and takes more like 45) which is pretty transformative.

The buses from Newcastle Haymarket are usually rammed and Arriva isn't all that consistent in providing a suitable double-deck vehicle to cope with demand.

My impression today was that the service is going to be very popular and that four cars will need to be the norm as demand ramps up, particularly when new stations open up along the line. It's only going to be 50p difference one-way between this and the bus from January (10p after 9am), so I can see many wanting to at least try the train.

This is a fairly unloved part of Northumberland right on my doorstep and I'm thrilled to see it getting a regular rail service, which will hopefully in turn start to drive some transformation in the area.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sky News showed one of its reporters on the train.

 

[Kite159]

More like 35 minutes in most cases (there was an evening service today which has a rather naff path and takes more like 45) which is pretty transformative.

Trust me to pick that 45 minute one by accident when looking at RTT.

I will probably pop up on Tuesday as I've got a free day and I've already got seat reservations on a couple of Lumo services (gotta make use of the free group travel before May)

 

[transportphoto]

I was surprised to see it formed of 2 x Class 156 but looking at RealTime Trains this seems to be the exception.

Having seen photos of a 158 using a bracket attached headlamp and tail lamp, I’d suggest the 156s came out to play to cover a possible failure or similar.

 

[typefish]

Going off of the crowds at Ashington, I think there were far more legitimate passengers southbound than northbound.

I suspect I was one of the very few legitimate passengers northbound on the first train!

Not that many people actually left the station, as far as I remember.

 

[A S Leib]

I suspect I was one of the very few legitimate passengers northbound on the first train!

Not that many people actually left the station, as far as I remember.

I went to the Woodhorn Museum, but waited for the railway to open rather than going purely by bus; was I a legitimate passenger (beyond making the first step of leaving the station)?

 

[kingston_toon]

We were in Newcastle this weekend anyway for the Toon match and had originally planned to watch the lasses play on Sunday, before that match was subsequently moved then cancelled.

So that opened up the possibility of a quick spin up to Ashington and back today. We caught the 1247 ex-NCL and came straight back on the 1336 as far as Seaton Delaval for the bus from there to Whitley Bay to meet friends for drinks.

Both services were very well filled, not just with enthusiasts, but I think mostly locals out for a ride. The conductor was super friendly doing ticket checks - a credit to Northern.

Very encouraging, and I hope this new route generates loads of demand, plus new housing development at the top end of the line to further grow ridership and get some more cars off the road.

Have to also give kudos to the young lads sat across the aisle from us who were super polite and knew their trains inside out - a credit to the hobby and I wish I had that when growing up, whereas I was mostly too afraid to "out" myself and take pics in case I got jumped on and / or had my stuff nicked!

 

[Pete 1981]

I'm having a ride on Wednesday (hopefully) as I noticed my first train of the day (06:20) from Reddish North-Man Picc was cancelled this morning.

 

[typefish]

I went to the Woodhorn Museum, but waited for the railway to open rather than going purely by bus; was I a legitimate passenger (beyond making the first step of leaving the station)?

I'd say so. Woodhorn isn't exactly a place to accidentally have ended up!

 

[D6130]

Ashington is now definitely on the 'Rail Ale Trail' map. There's the 'Hop 77' micropub in Station Road - just a HOP, skip and a jump from the station - with three rotating regionally-brewed ales and a friendly atmosphere (Source: CAMRA Whatpub app)....or if ticking Wetherspoon branches is your thing, there's the 'Rohan Kanhai' near the bus station. Apparently the legendary West Indies batsman played for Ashington Cricket Club in the 1963 and 1964 seasons (Source: Wikipedia).

 

[Swanley 59]

Sky News showed one of its reporters on the train.

My wife saw me on a YouTube video of the first Ashington-bound train that a friend had shared with her. She previously thought I'd been out with the dog at that time on a Sunday morning. I asked if I passed as one of the 'normals'. Her reply was disappointing.

 

[xotGD]

Ashington is now definitely on the 'Rail Ale Trail' map. There's the 'Hop 77' micropub in Station Road - just a HOP, skip and a jump from the station - with three rotating regionally-brewed ales and a friendly atmosphere (Source: CAMRA Whatpub app)....or if ticking Wetherspoon branches is your thing, there's the 'Rohan Kanhai' near the bus station. Apparently the legendary West Indies batsman played for Ashington Cricket Club in the 1963 and 1964 seasons (Source: Wikipedia).

Hop 77 may get a bit cosy if a railtour rocks up in Ashington with several hundred thirsty cranks!

 

[androdas]

Hop 77 may get a bit cosy if a railtour rocks up in Ashington with several hundred thirsty cranks!

Just to manage expectations while Ashington isn't quite as rough as often made out its not the sort of place where real ale is popular, that would be more of a Morpeth thing. - Much more of a Phoenix Nights vibe with even stranger accents

Thats not to say dont do it I would imagine its worth a trip and just to help others what I know of the other Stations and 'Ale Trail' type suggestion from a locals opinion:

Ashington: Apart from the mentioned HOP77 which is very small, there is Weatherspoon's which is a basic new build type from the early 90's not a converted cinema etc . The other town centre bars are mostly ex working men's clubs that have become pubs but retain the CIU feel. (Fun Fact for most of its existence Ashington did not have pubs - it was a mining town. But made up for the fact with a few dozen working men's clubs)

Bedlington (Station): The town centre itself is OK with a couple of micropubs and a decent Weatherspoon's but that's a long way from the station. The immediate area around the station just has two options really. The Clayton - I wouldn't go in there and I'm a local! It has a reputation lets say and has as long as I have known and a there is CIU club which is a pretty standard one.

Bebside: There is only the Bebside Inn which is OK, its a Biker / Rock Bar. Has some decent live music events on in the summer.

Newsham: The station is in a residential area with not much about. You could walk about a half mile into Newsham itself but they are mostly local bars and a couple of CIU clubs. Catch the bus into Blyth for a decent Spoons (A converted cinema) and some local bars.

Seaton Delaval: The Hastings is decent and right next door to the station, has a country pub feel and does nice meals.

Northumberland Park: Its in the middle of a new build(ish) housing estate. afaik nothing much Ale Trail related around here but I dont know the area that much so others might want to chip in.

Hope that is useful to someone and hopefully some other locals will provide their opinions/recommendations for those planning a trip on the line.

 

[xotGD]

Just to manage expectations while Ashington isn't quite as rough as often made out its not the sort of place where real ale is popular, that would be more of a Morpeth thing. - Much more of a Phoenix Nights vibe with even stranger accents

Having sampled the pubs on Gateshead High Street, I am ready for Ashington!

 

[androdas]

Having sampled the pubs on Gateshead High Street, I am ready for Ashington!

I used to work with a lad from the Heed and once went up Gateshead High Street with him. Curleys and Spoons made me feel quite homesick

 

[Snex]

Seaton Delaval: The Hastings is decent and right next door to the station, has a country pub feel and does nice meals.

Northumberland Park: Its in the middle of a new build(ish) housing estate. afaik nothing much Ale Trail related around here but I dont know the area that much so others might want to chip in.

Can't recommend the Hastings personally, it's been took over 5 month ago or so and it's a bit of a mess now. As long as there's not many people going as it's a micropub (holds around 30 people or so), The Crafty Lodge is the best place in Seaton Delaval, located right in the centre.

The Keel Row 15 minutes or so in the other direction isn't bad either but not sure on the ale situation there.

The best two pubs in the area are in Holywell though, Fat Ox and Milbourne, but they're a 30 minute walk away however that's closer than Bedlington is to Bedlington Station and Blyth is to Newsham and Bebside.

---

The Pavillion and Holystone are the two closest pubs to Northumberland Park station, believe both do ales but can't confirm though.

 

[androdas]

Can't recommend the Hastings personally, it's been took over 5 month ago or so and it's a bit of a mess now. As long as there's not many people going as it's a micropub (holds around 30 people or so), The Crafty Lodge is the best place in Seaton Delaval, located right in the centre.

The Keel Row 15 minutes or so in the other direction isn't bad either but not sure on the ale situation there.

The best two pubs in the area are in Holywell though, Fat Ox and Milbourne, but they're a 30 minute walk away however that's closer than Bedlington is to Bedlington Station and Blyth is to Newsham and Bebside.

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The Pavillion and Holystone are the two closest pubs to Northumberland Park station, believe both do ales but can't confirm though.

Not been in the Hastings for a good while to be honest shame it seems to have gone downhill.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hope that is useful to someone and hopefully some other locals will provide their opinions/recommendations for those planning a trip on the line.

Can you get decent fish and chips in Ashington or elsewhere along the line?

 

[ChrisC]

Hope that is useful to someone and hopefully some other locals will provide their opinions/recommendations for those planning a trip on the line.

I’m not a local and have no information on real ale or fish and chips along the line, but I can offer an idea of somewhere to go if making a trip along the newly opened line.

When I last visited Newcastle a couple of years ago I remember visiting Newbiggin by the Sea by bus and quite liked it. I do vaguely remember passing through Ashington and not being too impressed. For anyone not in a rush to get the next train back it may be worth travelling that extra 3 miles by the frequent bus to Newbiggin. I enjoyed a good walk along the sea front and it was was very nice up the far end around the point by the church. There’s quite a good beach too and the small town is not bad. There could well be some good fish and chips available there too.

 

[kingston_toon]

Can't recommend the Hastings personally, it's been took over 5 month ago or so and it's a bit of a mess now. As long as there's not many people going as it's a micropub (holds around 30 people or so), The Crafty Lodge is the best place in Seaton Delaval, located right in the centre.

The Keel Row 15 minutes or so in the other direction isn't bad either but not sure on the ale situation there.

The best two pubs in the area are in Holywell though, Fat Ox and Milbourne, but they're a 30 minute walk away however that's closer than Bedlington is to Bedlington Station and Blyth is to Newsham and Bebside.

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The Pavillion and Holystone are the two closest pubs to Northumberland Park station, believe both do ales but can't confirm though.

We popped into The Hastings yesterday connecting from train to bus and while they had four handpumps, there was no real ale on. Staff were lovely and friendly though and it was a nice place to get out of the wind!

 

[Snex]

We popped into The Hastings yesterday connecting from train to bus and while they had four handpumps, there was no real ale on. Staff were lovely and friendly though and it was a nice place to get out of the wind!

Ah it must've improved a bit, it's where I'm from and lots of people have been avoiding it as the food is naff and they don't like the new manager. Supposedly it's stupidly expensive compared to local pubs aswell but obviously depending where people are coming from then it might be cheap for you.

Can you get decent fish and chips in Ashington or elsewhere along the line?

Coastline at South Beach in Blyth is probably the best along the line, nothing out of the world though really. Nothing at Ashington, Bedlington Station, Bebside or Seaton Delaval though, not near the station anyway. V Gorman at North Seaton is nice but that's the far side of Ashington and unless you're planning to go on a tour to see the worst parts of the North East I'd probably not recommend heading there.

Harbour View at Seaton Sluice is generally regarded as the best in the area though which is a short bus ride from Seaton Delaval (X7) and you can get buses from there to South Beach which is a 20 minute walk from Newsham (X7/308/309), if you fancied doing the Coast. Seaton Delaval Hall (National Trust) is also on the X7 route for a day out. Don't attempt to walk it, unless you like walking though as it's not close as someone has said in the past it is.

 

[nerdowell]

Ah it must've improved a bit, it's where I'm from and lots of people have been avoiding it as the food is naff and they don't like the new manager. Supposedly it's stupidly expensive compared to local pubs aswell but obviously depending where people are coming from then it might be cheap for you.




Coastline at South Beach in Blyth is probably the best along the line, nothing out of the world though really. Nothing at Ashington, Bedlington Station, Bebside or Seaton Delaval though, not near the station anyway. V Gorman at North Seaton is nice but that's the far side of Ashington and unless you're planning to go on a tour to see the worst parts of the North East I'd probably not recommend heading there.

Harbour View at Seaton Sluice is generally regarded as the best in the area though which is a short bus ride from Seaton Delaval (X7) and you can get buses from there to South Beach which is a 20 minute walk from Newsham (X7/308/309), if you fancied doing the Coast. Seaton Delaval Hall (National Trust) is also on the X7 route for a day out. Don't attempt to walk it, unless you like walking though as it's not close as someone has said in the past it is.

Got the ice cream shop in Delaval centre as well though, always worth a trip lol

 

[NorthOxonian]

Ah it must've improved a bit, it's where I'm from and lots of people have been avoiding it as the food is naff and they don't like the new manager. Supposedly it's stupidly expensive compared to local pubs aswell but obviously depending where people are coming from then it might be cheap for you.

Along with some other forum members I popped in for a sunday roast yesterday - I found it brilliant for food (good quality, excellent portions, reasonable prices) but less so for drinks. No real ales available, and the lagers on offer were closer to Newcastle prices than typical Northumberland prices! Still, the service was excellent and I don't think anyone had any real complaints about the experience, they may have taken a corner...

Agree with the points about Newbiggin being worth a visit, and it definitely feels like a place on the up. For pubs I've always found the Queen's Head (more traditional pub) and Ink Spot (micropub) to be the best places to go in town. I imagine that in time the railway line will bring more business and custom to Ashington so in the future I imagine the place will gradually change, but it's not yet somewhere I'd make a point of visiting if coming from the wider area. Probably removing the now vacant Wansbeck Square shopping centre and providing a more direct station to town centre connection will help (though for Hop 77, the current walking route from the station is just as convenient).

 

[WesternLancer]

I went to the Woodhorn Museum, but waited for the railway to open rather than going purely by bus; was I a legitimate passenger (beyond making the first step of leaving the station)?

Hi @A S Leib - I was thinking the Woodhorn museum looks like an interesting place to visit. Given you must have done this, how long does it take to walk from the station roughly speaking, and is there are decent walking route? I ask as a quick look at aerial images on maps looks like you have to walk round a fair old stretch of by pass type road to get to the museum, so could be longer than a direct walking route, if one existed.

If anyone has any advice about visiting this museum, I'll take it on board!

 

[A S Leib]

Hi @A S Leib - I was thinking the Woodhorn museum looks like an interesting place to visit. Given you must have done this, how long does it take to walk from the station roughly speaking, and is there are decent walking route? I ask as a quick look at aerial images on maps looks like you have to walk round a fair old stretch of by pass type road to get to the museum, so could be longer than a direct walking route, if one existed.

If anyone has any advice about visiting this museum, I'll take it on board!

It took me around forty minutes to walk from the station to the museum, although at a fairly quick pace. The A197 has a footpath going the whole way alongside it from the roundabout by the Asda, but if going via the Aged Miners Homes, it's a slightly muddy but not particularly difficult route. There's no footpath on the side route to the museum, but it is at least a fairly wide road.

 

[WesternLancer]

It took me around forty minutes to walk from the station to the museum, although at a fairly quick pace. The A197 has a footpath going the whole way alongside it from the roundabout by the Asda, but if going via the Aged Miners Homes, it's a slightly muddy but not particularly difficult route. There's no footpath on the side route to the museum, but it is at least a fairly wide road.

Thanks for this gen. Appreciated - that helps me get a good idea on what to expect.

so no way over the railway line on the direct line of route? But via the Aged Miners Homes doesn't seem to be much of a short cut but could be a more pleasant 'off main road' route and path?

 

[A S Leib]

so no way over the railway line on the direct line of route?

I think there was a way to the country park, but I wasn't sure if it was possible to go via the country park to the museum, and as this was at ~09:30, I decided to just go the long way around.

But via the Aged Miners Homes doesn't seem to be much of a short cut but could be a more pleasant 'off main road' route and path?

That seems a fair description.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think there was a way to the country park, but I wasn't sure if it was possible to go via the country park to the museum, and as this was at ~09:30, I decided to just go the long way around.

That seems a fair description.

again, many thanks - helpful info and appreciated