SENRUG is a voluntary organisation that promotes rail travel and campaigns for better rail services in Northumberland and beyond, representing the interests of both existing and potential rail travellers in the area.
By ‘potential’, SENRUG means those who would use rail services if only the trains went where they want to go, at the time they want to go, at a price they can afford, and in a clean, safe, secure, accessible and easy to understand manner.
Please look through our website to find out more about our current campaigns and how we pursue them. Use the Contact button below to let us know if you agree or advise us of ideas of your own.
The more people we speak for, the louder our voice is heard. If you support our objectives, we invite you to add your voice to ours and join SENRUG, to help us achieve our campaigns and develop new ones.
SENRUG has been campaigning for the re-opening of the Ashington Blyth & Tyne Line, now known as The Northumberland Line, linking Newcastle to Ashington, since March 2005. The first phase opened on 15th December 2024. See the history of the campaign to date at our AB&T Campaign History Page. However, SENRUG is not a single issue campaign group, and you can check out our other campaigns and the progress we are making on our Campaigns Index page here.
LATEST NEWS
Northumberland Line Exceeds 2 millions passengers: Northern Trains and Northumberland County Council have announced the Northumberland Line has now carried over 2 million passengers. This milestone was achieved in September 2026, just 21 months after the first section of the route opened, and less than 6 months from the final station opening. This is a fantastic achievement that fully vindicates SENRUG’s 19-year campaign to get the line open and our repeated arguments that the line would be well used. SENRUG hopes this fantastic achievement will add urgency to plans to extend the line to Woodhorn and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. See SENRUG’s campaign page here.
New Book on The Northumberland Line: SENRUG member Iain Kitt has written a book, ‘From Blyth and Tyne to Northumberland Line’ which is being published next month. It is a history of the railways to Ashington and from Newcastle to the coast from their beginnings in the 1830s to the present day, telling the story of the rise and decline of these lines and the successful campaign to bring passenger services back to the area. If you would like to buy a copy for £12 (it will be £15.99 in bookshops) email Iain at kittybag535@gmail.com or text or WhatsApp to 07954 785228.
