Historic Northumberland Line To Reopen Next Summer
The title of this post, is the same as that, of this news story from the UK Government.
This is the sub-heading.
Fully accessible stations are being built to give 6 Northumberland communities regular train services.
And these are the main bullet points.
- Transport Secretary announces regular train services will return to Northumberland Line in 2024
- Journey times will be slashed in half and communities reconnected to jobs and opportunities helping to level up and grow the region’s economy
- Investment forms part of government’s Restoring Your Railway programme, which reopens old stations and lines across the country
Let’s hope this line follows the Dartmoor Line in being a success.
I wrote about this success in Dartmoor Line Passes 250,000 Journeys On Its First Anniversary, As Rail Minister Visits To Mark Official Opening Of The Station Building.
The Anonymous Widower 
Its going to have a half hourly service so im sure will be very successful. The issue is Northern Trains have to resource it out of existing stock so I suspect will end up as 2 cars when they will probably need 4 car. Its a nonsense that the Chathill services which i know is infrequent but runs all the way under the wires is still run with diesels as that could free up a unit. Also if the Carlisle service to Morpeth was cut back to Newcastle as it used to be then that service could have been electric. Finally GWR have been told to stand down the 769 tri modes which would have been ideal for the Ashington service.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | March 7, 2023 |
The line is a ideal one for four-car battery electric trains. There are lots of spare four car electrics available in the next couple of years including 321, 350 and 379. Nothing less than a 321 with the Renatus interior will do for this line.
Comment by AnonW | March 7, 2023 |
battle proven under 379 7 years ago just fit latest spec batteries jobs a gooden
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | March 7, 2023
Maybe the whole situation is muddied by the fact that currently DfT OLR Holdings, is the operator of last resort for Northern Trains. Could there be ongoing negotiations to let the business as a new franchise? You can imagine that a new franchisee might want to make decisions on rolling stock?
Comment by fammorris | March 9, 2023 |