What Is Proposed?

SENRUG wants to see a long distance train call at Morpeth at least every 2 hours throughout the day, in each direction.

In December 2019, with the introduction of the hourly TPE service (Liverpool – Edinburgh) calling at Morpeth, SENRUG considered this campaign achieved. Sadly, however, the TPE services were not re-instated in May 2021 after the COVID lockdown. A more limited TPE service now runs between Newcastle and Edinburgh, increasing to 8 trains each way from December 2025, but these services no longer provide a direct connection to Manchester and Liverpool. Furthermore, the new ECML timetable, strongly opposed by SENRUG and other local stakeholders, will now be introduced from December 2025 reducing off-peak LNER services at Morpeth. However, 2021 saw the introduction of LUMO trains (an open access operator) running from Edinburgh, Morpeth, Newcastle then non-stop to London (some trains will call at Stevenage).

Why?

Morpeth station serves a population of 81,000 living within a 5 mile radius of the station. A population of this size clearly merits frequent long distance trains and a good selection of long distance trains will help re-invigorate the business economy throughout South East Northumberland and promote Morpeth’s leisure and tourist potential. The local service between Morpeth and Newcastle is poor and changing trains at Newcastle is unappealing.

In particular, there is a strong demand between Morpeth and Edinburgh, yet passengers will not travel back to Newcastle in order to catch a train going north to Edinburgh. Train operators can however re-sell seats on less busy sections of their routes vacated by passengers alighting at Newcastle.

How?

The TPE services between Newcastle and Edinburgh should be upgraded to hourly each way and reconnected to the Liverpool – Newcastle service, re-instating direct links from Morpeth to Manchester and Liverpool, and improving the number of trains to Durham, Darlington, York and Leeds.

The cuts to be introduced by government-owned LNER from December 2025 should be reversed. A minimum of 2 off-peak LNER services each way and the morning direct connection from Morpeth to Aberdeen should be re-instated at the earliest opportunity.

The Department For Transport should confirm it is committed to the long-term continuation of open access rail operators such as LUMO to ensure continuation of their services at Morpeth., and Lumo’s plans to expand their services should be supported.

 

Back to Our Campaigns