England’s Northumberland Line project on track but deadline slips
Major track works have brought the mixed traffic upgrade a step closer for the Northumberland Line. The project to bring passenger services back to a string of industrial communities lying north of Newcastle is moving forward, but so is the deadline. The target date for the reintroduction of a passenger service has slipped from this winter to next summer. All freight traffic is already diverted away from the worksites, including traffic to and from the port of Blyth.
The excitement has been put back on ice for a little while yet in the North East of England. It has been around six decades since the last passenger trains ran on the line, so there isn’t too much dismay that the project is about six months behind schedule. The Northumberland Line project has however entered a critical phase, with major track works being carried out to upgrade the railway from occasional freight use to accommodating a new passenger service. The project, led by Network Rail and their contractors, is set to restore passenger trains to the region for the first time since the 1960s.
Existing freight traffic safeguarded
Engineering freight has been the mainstay of traffic for the line. A significant portion of the recent track works has focused on the Ashington area, where the new station will be the northern terminus for passenger operations. The line extends north from that community, carrying freight traffic from the port of Blyth to a connection with the East Coast Main Line. Long term ambitions include running passenger services over this section too, but that is not part of the existing project plan. The major works here have seen replacement of tracks between the new station site and a nearby level crossing. A new set of points has also been installed, enabling trains to access the Ashington station platform and then change tracks to head back south, towards Newcastle.
Freight has kept the line in use, ever since a widespread rationalisation in the 1960s removed passenger operations from many similar lines around Britain. The Northumberland Line project aims to reconnect several towns along the route and significantly improve transportation options. The new passenger service will serve Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland Park, and Newcastle Central. Journey times will be cut in half, with the end-to-end timing being just over half an hour. Promoters claim the project promises to revitalise towns that have not enjoyed railway services since the Beatles were in the chart with Ticket to Ride. “The freight trains that currently use the railway will still be able to do so, helping support the economic aspirations of both Lynemouth Power Station and the Port of Blyth”, says a confident statement from the project team.
Freight growth taken into account
Initially scheduled to open in December this year, the project faced a slight delay, with the new completion date now targeted for the summer of 2024. Neil Blackburn, the programme director for the Northumberland Line, expressed confidence in meeting this deadline, revealing that the first passengers are anticipated to board in August 2024. Blackburn also revealed his hopes of extending the line beyond Newcastle, possibly to destinations like the Metro Centre. However, he emphasised the need to take incremental steps and ensure a smooth start before considering further expansions. The project’s benefits go beyond improved transportation, as plans for more affordable tickets for young people traveling for education are currently in the works.
Capacity for freight is built into the project, anticipating growth in that sector too. Other new infrastructure projects in recent years, notably the Borders Railway in Scotland, and the East West Rail project between Oxford and Cambridge, have been criticised for lack of provision for future freight traffic. However, the East West Rail project, which is still in development, has been revised to better accommodate freight growth. Speaking about the Northumberland Line project, Blackburn highlighted its transformative potential for the region. From creating new opportunities for local communities to improving connectivity and economically reinvigorating towns along the line, he says the Northumberland Line has been described as an “absolute game-changer”. The project aims to deliver a safe, reliable, and efficient railway system that benefits both passengers and freight users.
As the North East eagerly anticipates the revival of passenger trains, the Northumberland Line project represents a significant step towards a more accessible and interconnected future. With August 2024 set as the target date for the first passengers to embark on their journeys, the railway’s rebirth promises to reshape the region’s transportation landscape, breathing new life into communities and unlocking new opportunities for growth and development.
