North East Coast Named Top UK Rail Walking Route Thanks To Northumberland Line Reopening
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Northumberland Gazette.
This is the sub-heading.
A once-missing link in Northumberland’s rail network has helped unlock a new coastal walking route.
These two introductory paragraphs add more detail.
Railwalks.co.uk, a national group which aims to promote walking from railway stations, has identified the North East coastline as one of the best-served by rail in Britain.
This has only become possible since the reopening of Ashington Station last year. Until July 19, Railwalks.co.uk founder member Steve Melia will be walking 92 miles from Alnmouth to Seaton Carew, following the England Coast Path.
If people are walking the coast, they are going to need support like cafes, pubs and shops.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the Northumberland Line and the coast.
Note.
- The orange track is the East Coast Main Line with stations at Widdrington, Pegswood and Cramlington, as you come down the map.
- The blue arrow indicates Ashington, which is the terminus of the Northumberland Line.
- The yellow track is the Northumberland Line, which passes through Newsham and Seaton Delaval.
- The green track at the bottom of the map, is the Newcastle Metro to Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and North Shields.
- To the East of Ashington is Museum Halt, which could be a station on an extension of the railway to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, which I wrote about in Onward To Newbiggin-by-the-Sea For The Northumberland Line?.
How many other places in the UK would benefit from a new or reopened railway for business, leisure and building houses in nice little inaccessible towns and places?
Newsham Station – 30th March 2025
Today, I went to Newcastle and took a ride to the recently-opened ; Newsham station on the Northumberland Line.
Note.
- The road bridge over the railway.
- When complete there will be a lot of parking space.
- The orange bollards in the parking could be electric vehicle chargers, ready to be unveiled.
- The full step-free access over the railway via the lifts is already working.
- British Railways, its predecessors and many other countries would have just put in a level crossing.
- The Completed platform is wide.
- Both platforms already have a shelter.
- There are help points, information displays, facilities for those with limited hearing and readers for smart ticketing on both platforms.
- There is a ticket machine by both lift towers.
- The disabled parking is already marked out.
- The brickwork and other workmanship is top-class.
- There is space behind the platforms for taxis, buses and emergency service vehicles.
- There is enough clearance under the two bridges for overhead electrification.
There is still some finishing off and landscaping to do, but it is a station with everything.
I have some other thoughts.
The High Quality Lifts Are By Stannah
Several of the passengers I saw, were getting on in years.
Does the maker of the well-advertised stair-lifts use station lifts, which are likely to be used by those of reduced mobilility, as a promotional tool?
The Station Will Be One Of The Best Rural Stations In The UK, When It is Complete
I can see other stations on a similar theme being built.
Especially, where a level crossing is to be eliminated.
This Google Map shows the level crossing and former station at Six Mile Bottom, near where I used to live.
Note.
- The Cambridge and Newmarket railway goes across the map.
- Cambridge is to the West and Newmarket is to the East.
- The main Newmarket to London road crosses the railway here in a level crossing.
- Newmarket is to the North and London and the M11 is to the South.
- There used to be a station here and some want it back.
- There have been several incidents on the level crossing and Greater Anglia have had serious damage to more than one train.
A station like Newsham would be ideal here.
I can see Morgan Sindall building a few more on this theme.
Could they licence the design to construction companies all over the world?
I’ve certainly, seen similar layouts in Eastern Poland, where there are lots of level crossing accidents, according to our guide on one trip. But he said Russia is a lot worse for level crossing accidents.
Now That’s What I Call A Station!
Newsham station on the Northumberland Line opens on Monday and I was alerted to the design of the station, by this page on the Northumberland Chronicle.
I clipped this drone view of the station from the page.
Note.
- It almost looks like two stations, one for the Northbound line and one for the Southbound.
- There appears to be a by-pass for those not wanting to visit the station.
- There is a traditional step-free bridge with lifts.
- Each half-station appears to have bus stops, car parking, disabled car-parking and a drop-off lane.
- There is a well-marked walking route to bring travellers to the station.
This Google map shows the layout of the station.
To say it’s different is an understatement. But I like it and I can’t wait to jump on a Lumo to go and see it, in all its new reality.
I hope all those connected with the design and architecture have got evening wear, as given the awards they’re going to win, they’ll need them.
Latest Northumberland Line station Set To Open
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Place North East.
This is the sub-heading.
Newsham Station in Blyth will be up and running on Monday, 17 March, allowing passengers to travel to Newcastle in 21 minutes.
These four paragraphs add detail.
It follows on from the reopening of the line in December, when Ashington and Seaton Delaval were brought back into action.
The line has been closed to passengers for almost 60 years, although freight still ran along the tracks.
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure-Rail is the main contractor on the almost £300m project.
Figures released by Northern, which operates the services, show around 50,000 passenger journeys were made on the line in the first month, a figure that has now surpassed 110,000.
Those passenger numbers seem very good and I suspect we’ll see London Overground Syndrome arriving.
It’s already starting to look like the project has been £300 million well spent and we should be looking for more similar projects.
Northumberland Line ‘Phased Reopening’ By Summer
The title of this post, is the same as that as this article on the BBC.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The Northumberland Line will partially reopen this summer days after it was announced it would not be in service until the end of 2024.
Conservative county council leader Glen Sanderson said there had been “challenges” with the project, but when fully reopened the rail line would be a “game changer” for travellers.
The stations due to be open in the summer are Seaton Delaval, Ashington and Newsham.
In my lifetime, the Victoria, Jubilee and Elizabeth Lines in London, have opened on a phased manner.
So why shouldn’t the Northumberland Line?
In fact given the route, it could be opened with a shuttle between Ashington and Newcastle stations, to train drivers and test the concept.
- The intermediate stations could be added over a couple of years.
- I would add a station with lots of parking early.
- If the views live up to the pictures, a lot of passengers will have a day out for the views.
- I’m sure enthusiasts and locals, especially with their kids will be exploring this short railway in droves.
To me, this is definitely a line, that will suffer from London Overground Syndrome.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the railways to the North of Newcastle.
Note.
- The red track is the electrified East Coast Main Line.
- Ashington station is at the top of the map and is marked by a blue arrow.
- The blue track is the Tyne and Wear Metro.
- Newcastle station is where the Metro crosses the East Coast Main Line at the bottom of the map.
- The black trackrunning North-South to the East of the East Coast Main Line is the Northumberland Line.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the railways to the North of Ashington.
Note.
- The red track is the electrifed East Coast Main Line.
- Ashington station is at the bottom of the map and is marked by a blue arrow.
- There are a few disused colliery lines to the North of Ashington.
I believe that these railways to the North of Newcastle could and should be developed.
The East Coast Main Line Is Congested
Consider.
- The East Coast Main Line has only two tracks.
- It is one of only two rail routes between England and Scotland.
- It carries local services as well as long distance express services.
- In recent years more services have been added by Lumo and TransPennine Express.
It is my belief that applying digital signalling between Newcastle and Edinburgh via Berwick, should be a high priority project to increase the capacity of the East Coast Main Line.
Local Services Can Be Extended
The Northumberland Line opens up possibilities for extension, where track already exists..
- From Ashington to Newbiggin-on-Sea and Lynemouth.
- From Bedlington to Morpeth and the East Coast Main Line.
- From Bedlington to North Blyth.
It would appear that it might be possible to run a new line North from Ashington to connect with the East Coast Main Line.
Distances Are Short
Consider.
- Ashington and Newcastle is 20.6 miles
- Newcastle and Morpeth is 16.6 miles
- Newcastle and Berwick is electrified.
- In The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains, I stated that Hitachi’s battery-electric express trains have a range of 43.5 miles on one battery. A slower commuter train would certainly achieve this distance.
I have a feeling that a passenger-friendly network of battery-electric trains can be developed along and around the Northumberland Line and the East Coast Main Line.
Northumberland Line Station Contracts Are Signed
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Nexus.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The signs are good for the new Northumberland rail line after the green light was given for construction to get underway on three new stations.
Contracts have been exchanged for principal contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to formally start work on Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Seaton Delaval stations.
Main construction works are progressing at pace, with station works well underway at Newsham and works approaching completion in Ashington, and 21km of new track is already installed.
It certainly looks like it’s all systems go.
I hope Network Rail have the next reopening ready to go!
Northumberland Line On Track As Approval Granted
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
These are the first three paragraphs.
A new rail line in Northumberland – including six new stations – is on track after getting ministers’ support.
The aim is to open the stations and upgrade track between Newcastle and Ashington by December 2023.
Following an inquiry, the government has granted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) authorising the closure of level crossings and purchase of land.
Northumberland Council said it was a “key milestone”.
These two paragraphs describe the project.
Construction work on the line is due to start this summer.
It is planned to run a half-hourly passenger service along the 18-mile line, stopping at Bedlington, Blyth, Bebside, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park Metro station.
We need more rail reopening like this to level-up the country.
Two More Stations For The Northumberland Line Are Approved
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Northumberland Post Leader.
- Northumberland Park and Ashington stations have already been approved.
- Bedlington and Seaton Delaval stations have just been approved.
- That leaves Bebside and Newsham to be approved.
It could soon be all systems go for the builders.
The Anonymous Widower 