What Is Proposed?
SENRUG wants to see a new, hourly each way local train service between Newcastle and Berwick, serving every station, namely Manors, Cramlington, Morpeth, Pegswood, Widdrington, Aclington, Alnmouth and Chathill.
New stations could be added: first priority being Belford, with other possibilities being Beal for Holy Island and a station at East Benton which would offer an interconnection with the new Metro service SENRUG proposes between Airport, Northumberland Park and Blyth Town Centre. Warkworth for Amble would be another possibility.
Why?
Currently, residents of Pegswood, Widdrington, Acklington and Chathill have just one morning commuter train to Newcastle and one evening return train. This is wholly inadequate and does not reflect the needs of part time (eg call centre) workers or those who have variable finish times. When SENRUG consulted on a proposed timetable change to the single evening service, it found evidence that many commuters from these communities simply do not use the train as there is an inadequate choice of services and they risk paying for a season ticket without being able to catch the only train home.
It would make travel to Edinburgh and Scotland easier by allowing interconnection at Berwick onto long distance services.
The local rail service would help re-vitalise Northumberland’s northern community by creating access to jobs, education, healthcare facilities and leisure in both Newcastle and Berwick and as well as intermediate points such as Cramlington and Morpeth.
The new coastal rail service would also reduce car travel in Northumberland’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making the area more accessible by public transport for tourists and leisure. It would connect various locations on the Northumberland Coast Path and Cycle Path, and serve St Cuthbert’s Way (a long distance path) at both Belford and Beal (once these stations are added). Good public transport links would make north Northumberland a more attractive holiday destination and increase inward investment. Once a regular local train service is running, the line could be promoted through leaflets advertising walks, cycle rides and tourist attractions in close proximity to stations. In SENRUG’s view, Cornwall enjoys a good local public transport network and has a strong tourism industry. Norfolk enjoys a reasonable public transport network and has a reasonably developed tourism industry. Whereas north Northumberland has a poor public transport network and has under-exploited tourism potential. This needs to be addressed.
At the southern end of the line, coupled with the existing Carlisle – Morpeth service, which SENRUG wants to see extended beyond Morpeth to Bedlington, this new service would deliver 2 trains an hour in each direction at Cramlington, as well as opening up access to employment opportunities at Cramlington from the north of the county.
How?
A Feasibility Study has already been completed, funded 49% by Northumberland County Council, 49% by Norther and 2% by SENRUG. Undertaken by leading rail consultants Systra, this concluded the service is both commercially viable and technically feasible, provided electric trains are used (these have faster acceleration than diesel trains).
Therefore, a sponsoring local authority needs to commission a Train Operator, most likely Northern, to bid for the train paths from Network Rail, lease the trains, and start operating the service.
SENRUG has been in discussion with the department for transport as to the correct process for doing this. With the establishment of the North East Mayoral Authority, is seems this responsibly now rests with the Mayor.
SENRUG accepts that most likely, the new service needs to be established first serving the existing stations, and then the new stations added immediately after the service is running, starting with Belford.
Meanwhile, Network Rail should not be permitted to allocate the train paths required for this local service to a long-distance operator whose trains would not call at local stations in Northumberland.
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