History made as Northumberland Line reopens for the first time in more than 60 years

Kris Jepson was on the platform in Ashington as the first passenger service on the newly reopened Northumberland Line departed for Newcastle.

Passengers have been able to board trains on the Northumberland Line for the first time in more than six decades, as services officially opened to the public.

The first service arrived to cheering crowds in Ashington this morning before departing to Newcastle.

The long-awaited opening follows years of painstaking work and planning, with £298.5 million invested in the project which local leaders say will 'revolutionise' public transport in the south east of the county.

Stations in Ashington and Seaton Delaval have already opened, while Newsham, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park stations are scheduled to open in 2025.

Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “It has taken the County Council years of planning and significant investment to allow us to get the line up and running as it is today.

“It is an exceptionally proud moment for me and the County Council - it has been a huge project for us but it has been worth it and I thank everyone in our team for getting us here.

“Today shows what can be achieved when people work together to produce something that is brilliant, provides lasting social benefits for many and brings hugely significant economic benefits to the area.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This is a truly transformational project that will have countless positive benefits for the local area and it’s fantastic to know that £250 million of Government funding helped make this historic moment happen.

“I had the pleasure of meeting some of the people whose lives will change for the better thanks to this line and it once again demonstrates that investment in transport isn’t just about getting from A to B, it’s a tool to unlock opportunity and growth in every corner of the country.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “Our region is ambitious, and I want the North East to enjoy the greenest and best-connected transport network in the country.

“The opening of the Northumberland Line is great news for passengers in the region and will be truly transformative for those in South East Northumberland in particular.

“The line will increase local connections and link local people to more opportunities for jobs, for education and to each other, so we all benefit from this exciting new infrastructure.

“I am pleased that our integrated fares, including the £1 21 and under fare will help passengers on the Northumberland Line enjoy cheaper travel across the region. This is a big step forward in the right direction.”

Trains will run every half hour Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sunday. The end-to-end journey time from Ashington to Newcastle will be approximately 35 minutes.

The news has been welcomed by the South East Northumberland Rail Users Group, who have campaigned for the return of the Northumberland Line for 19 years.

Dennis Fancett, the organisation's chair, said: “It’s been a long campaign, and many, many people just laughed at us when we first proposed it and said it could or would never happen. But here we are on board the train, and this is a good opportunity to thank all those who have helped us along the way, many of whom have now moved on from the positions they held several years ago.

"Particular thanks however are due to the team in place today at County Hall who’ve faced an astonishing array of unexpected technical issues during the construction phase over the last 2 years but have driven the project through. And of course, we want to thank our SENRUG members, without whose support this campaign group could not have continued to exist. I think most people would acknowledge that if there had been no SENRUG, there would be no opening today”.

The group says it will continue to campaign for the line to be extended to Woodhorn and Newbiggin.

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