SENRUG first put forward proposals to re-open the working freight railway line between Newcastle and Ashington for passenger trains in 2005. In those days, SENRUG called the route the “Ashington Blyth & Tyne line, drawing on the name of the company (“Blyth and Tyne”) which originally operated the lines, but introducing “Ashington” into the title too, as that is where the line goes to today. After lots of campaigning and lobbying, progress and set-backs, In May 2017, Northumberland County Council confirmed their intention to proceed with the proposal, re-christening it “The Northumberland Line” which is what it is now known as today.
The new rail service will help regenerate the region by providing access to employment in Newcastle and beyond, as well as places such as Cobalt Business Park served by the station at Northumberland Park. It also helps make South East Northumberland a more attractive place to live because of the significantly improved public transport connection to Newcastle. It connects an area of economic need to an area of opportunity.
After a 19 year campaign, the first phase of the project finally opened in December 2024, initially serving Ashington and Seaton Delaval stations only. We are now waiting for the remaining stations at Bedlington, Blyth-Bebside, Newsham and Northumberland Park (which will be a Metro interchange) to come on steam, which are expected at different stages during 2025.
The map below shows the line as it will be once the remaining stations are fully opened.
For a full chronological history of our campaign click here
Pivotal moments in the campaign history were the 2008 SENRUG Charter Train round the line and the 2014 SENRUG Schools DVD Competition (to mark the 50th anniversary of the original withdrawal of passenger services in 1964), and the March 2023 formal government announcement of the re-opening at the Newsham Station site, to which SENRUG Chair Dennis Fancett was invited.
Although SENRUG was delighted when Northumberland County Council, after carefully scrutinising the business case, first decided to press ahead with the scheme, the plan adopted by the Council and submitted to the Department for Transport for funding approval didn’t include everything SENRUG had asked for initially. SENRUG accepted this as a very welcome first step, but continues to campaign for the line to be extended beyond Ashington to Woodhorn and Newbiggin, and for a station to be added at Seghill.
After that, there are yet further possibilities, including the Morpeth Bedlington link, the Ashington to Alnmouth and the North link via the Butterwell branch, and the Newsham to Blyth Town Centre link, as part of a wider campaign for a new Metro route from the Airport to Blyth Town Centre.
The schematic map below shows what the rail network in South East Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle would look like when all the above proposals are fully implemented.
SENRUG’s original campaign map is below.
For the history of the “Blyth and Tyne” line, click here.
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