The Anonymous Widower

A Trip To The Northumberland Line – 7th November 2025

On Friday, I went to Newcastle to have a look at the new Blyth Bebside station.

I took these pictures between Newcastle and Ashington stations.

Note.

1. The impressive slim bridge over the railway at Newsham station. Other places could imitate this. See Bicester Village Station – 28th May 2025.
2. The well-filled car park at Newsham station.
3. The large amount of new housing.
4. The recently-opened Blyth Bebside station.
5. The crossing of the River Blyth.
6. The under-construction Bedlington station.
7. The crossing of the River Wansbeck.
8. The single platform Ashington station.
9. The train took 36 minutes for the 18 miles.
10. According to staff, there is no hostelry close to the station at Ashington, but there is a good gluten-free pub at Seaton Delaval station, that I wrote about in Seaton Delaval Station – 30th March 2025.

I then returned to Blyth Bebside station and took these pictures.

Note.

1. Blyth Bebside station is fully step-free.
2. There is a sizable car park.
3. The wind turbines of Blyth Harbour wind farm can be seen in the distance from the station bridge.
4. I estimate the platforms at the station will take a five-car Hitachi Class 802 train or a pair of two-car Class 158 trains.

These are some further thoughts.

The Platforms On The Northumberland Line Are Long

Consider.

• As I said earlier the platforms in the stations appear to be long enough to handle a five-car Hitachi Class 802 train or a pair of two-car Class 158 trains.
• From what some have said about the line, I suspect four-car trains will be needed soon for Newcastle matches.
• But would this be enough, if a local hero like Sting decided to have a Summer concert on the beach?
• Lengthening platforms is often a pain, if you don’t make them long enough.

So were Network Rail just making sure that the track was fit for all eventualities?

Could The Northumberland Line Be Electrified?

These pictures show Platform 1 at Newcastle station, where Northumberland Line trains usually terminate at Newcastle.

Note.

 

November 9, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Ashington Station, Bedlington Station, Byth Bebside Station, Newcastle Station, Northumberland Line (Newcastle And Ashington/Blyth)