It has been reported that a formal bid has been submitted to extend the Northumberland Line railway, which has seen more than 900,000 passenger journeys in the year since it reopened.
The North East Combined Authority has been asked by Northumberland County Council, to extend the Northumberland Line, which would see the line connecting south-east Northumberland to Tyneside, as far as Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Conservative leader of the council Glen Sanderson was said to have commented that the total cost of the scheme was yet to be worked out, but also added that, “it is going to be very expensive, but I’m sure it will be worthwhile.”
Meanwhile, Labour North East Mayor Kim McGuinness commented that NECA would “support a business case to see what is possible.”
The Local Democracy Service was also reported as saying that “the success of the line has prompted discussions on extending it further, with Newbiggin identified as a key destination. This is despite the fact two of the line’s stations – Bedlington and Northumberland Park – have not yet opened and are only expected to do so in early 2026.
“The extension would require additional track laying, unlike the rest of the reopened line which used existing freight lines”.
First things first
Alistair Ford, spokesperson for the North East Public Transport Users Group responded:
“The opening of the Northumberland Line has been a huge success story, with higher-than-expected passenger numbers showing that there’s a real appetite for more sustainable transport in the region. It’s good to hear local politicians calling for more investment in extensions to the network instead of wasting taxpayers money on road-building schemes.”
“Whilst the extension to Newbiggin would help connect another town to the North East rail network, there are other, more important issues that need to be addressed first. As reported, two of the line’s most important stations still haven’t opened, and the delays to Northumberland Park mean passengers can’t switch from trains to the Metro there. We also hear lots of reports of trains being full and passengers left stranded on stations. We would like to see the capacity of the line increased, with more four-carriage trains and double-track sections, ensuring the existing line works for local people before extending it further.”
The way forward
It is indeed welcome news that the Northumberland line, which was opened just over a year ago has been such a success that political leaders are already talking about extending it to Newbiggin. This was what was missing from the building of the Metro 45 years ago; a sense of vision, of a system that would be continually extended. It is good to see that ambition is in not in such short supply today.
However, Alistair Ford is also correct to caution that it is imperative to ensure that the Northumberland line as far as Ashington is fully developed, with all proposed stations open and trains which can fully cope with the large numbers of travellers.
There are not either/or choices. Here in the North East we sorely need a vastly improved public transport system, which is both ambitious in its scope and organised in such a way that it really benefits the people of the region. let us all hope that in the coming years we will just such a system develop.
