Northumberland Line on course to open next month - but frustrations arise over lack of precise date

The Northumberland Line remains on course to welcome passenger services next month, those behind the project say, despite there still being no specific opening date.

There have been concerns that potential customers won’t be able to make plans in the run up to Christmas after times started appearing on the National Rail and Real Time Trains websites from December 15, although it was not possible to buy tickets. Train times have so far not appeared on the Northern website.

The Northumberland Line project has upgraded 12 miles of the Blyth and Tyne freight railway between Benton Junction (where it meets the East Coast Main Line) and Ashington. Once open, trains will take just over 35 minutes to travel between Newcastle and Ashington.

Dennis Fancett, Chairman of South East Northumberland Rail User Group (SENRUG), said the people who would want to use the line from December aren’t just those looking to head into Newcastle.

He said people returning to the North East for Christmas will need to know whether to buy a ticket to Ashington, or travel to somewhere like Morpeth on the East Coast Main Line.

“If say, one Friday they announce it will be open on the Monday, all the cheaper tickets to and from places like London will be gone, it will be expensive if not booked out,” he said.

He added that not confirming a date, in a bid to avoid the risk of missing it and losing credibility, was also costing the project credibility.

The route was originally due to open in the summer, but it wasn’t until August 2 that Northumberland County Council said the opening date was being postponed to December,

Fancett described that announcement as “very very very late”, adding that communication surrounding the opening of the line had “not been handled well, particularly this last weekend with train times appearing on National Rail” but with tickets remaining unavailable.

Northern says it has trained dozens of drivers and is not far off getting all conductors signed off on the route.

The operator is confident it will be ready for whatever date is set.

Locals have also been unsure as to which organisation they are waiting on to confirm when the line will open.

The Department for Transport told RAIL the project was led by Northumberland County Council.

A council spokesman, speaking on behalf of Northumberland Line said the project was on course to open in December “in a phased approach”.

“We are looking forward to bringing passenger trains back to communities in south east Northumberland for the first time in 60 years, bringing massive benefits not just in terms of travel, but also investment and educational opportunities, as well as enhanced public transport connectivity across the wider region,” the spokesman said.

“As soon as the entry into service date is confirmed it will be communicated, as well as details around buying tickets."

Northumberland Council has said Ashington and Seaton Delaval stations will be the first to open, with Newsham opened in early 2025.

Northumberland Line Programme Delivery Director Neil Blagburn said completion of Newsham station is “very close” but added that “it is our biggest and most complex sites and there have been a number of power, engineering and regulatory challenges that have meant we couldn’t open alongside Ashington and Seaton Delaval”.

Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park will open throughout 2025, with the latter replacing the existing Manors station on the schedule once it’s ready.