Longer Trains Plan As New Rail Line Fills Up
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A newly reopened railway line has attracted so many passengers that carriages may have to be added to trains to avoid people having to stand, a council said.
These three paragraphs add a bit more detail.
The Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December after being shut for 60 years but so far only half the six stations are in operation.
County council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth said making the carriages longer was being considered to cope with demand, especially on busy Newcastle United match days.
He described it as a “good problem” for the £298m project where passenger numbers are on course to hit five times the original estimate.
It looks to me that the Northumberland Line is suffering a very bad case of London Overground Syndrome.
The only certain thing, is that as the syndrome will get worse as more stations are opened.
At least the syndrome has a proven solution – The operator just needs to rustle up some more trains.
The Anonymous Widower 
Going to be years before they can get any new units but both West Midlands Trains and Transport for Wales are replacing 15x series trains currently so that should throw off a few units albeit old but thats only spare stock. They could also run the Morpeth/Berwick services with surplus EMUs but they would have to curtail the services to Newcastle rather than running through to Carlisle/Middlesborough give them another 2-3 DMUs and gets a bit decarbonistion.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | April 12, 2025 |
On talking to staff, especially on the day after Newcastle brought home the cup. They need four-car trains and also more staff, as I got stuck at Seaton Delaval because of a lack of train crew.
The line though is ready for battery-electric trains, as Platform 1 at Newcastle station is already wired and a round trip is probably under forty miles. Perhaps put up a fifty metre length of electrification at Ashington to be sure.
Hitachi have talked about a battery-electric Class 385 for Scotland, and CAF have talked about a battery-electric Class 331, so why not ask both to provide a prototype and have a run-off?
I believe there are a number of lines, where a 100 mph four-car UK-built battery-electric train could be deployed.
If Starmer wants to leave his mark on the railways of this country, an order for a fleet of these trains would do it.
Comment by AnonW | April 12, 2025 |
Where beyond talk all the big western rolling stock manufacturers have battle proven kit now. If its a climate emergency we just need to get with procuring BEMUs for the easy routes like this.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | April 12, 2025
Didn’t you mean London *Overground* Syndrome?
Comment by Chris L | April 12, 2025 |
Thanks! When you have a typing style based on an only partly functioning left arm and a brain, that’s asking for more B12, you tend to make mistakes.
Comment by AnonW | April 12, 2025 |
I rode in public service in a Bombardier Electrostar on battery power in February 2015. What has stopped them being used in large numbers?
Is it politicians don’t believe batteries can move a train?
Comment by AnonW | April 12, 2025 |