A former passenger railway line which is set to be upgraded to reintroduce trains between Newcastle and Ashington further north played host to a number of special services last week, allowing local politicians to experience the route.
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The Northumberland line – previously known as the Ashington, Blyth & Tyne line – stopped carrying passenger services in the 1960s but is partially used by freight trains.
Work is expected to start next year to restore the route which will involve the upgrade of 30km of track and construction of six new stations at Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.
The scheme, proposed by Northumberland County Council following years of local campaigning, could see regular services reinstated from 2024.
Council leader Glen Sanderson said: “It was fantastic to experience first hand one of the journeys that hundreds of thousands of people will soon be able to enjoy and benefit from.
“Passenger services on the Northumberland line will provide a huge economic boost, improve transport links, attract more visitors and support growth sectors. It will also help to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, contributing greatly to our climate change targets,” he added.
The project received £34M towards detailed design and preparatory works from the Government earlier this year and is currently awaiting approval and confirmation of funding to deliver the full scheme.
North East Joint Transport Committee chair Martin Gannon added: “The Northumberland line will be a wonderful asset for local people and helps us take further steps to encourage people out of their cars and onto cleaner, more sustainable forms of transport.”
Network Rail is working on plans to upgrade the track and infrastructure while contractor Morgan Sindall has been appointed to construct the new stations.
(Photograph: Jonathon Hurley-Morris and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)
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