Today, I had calls from BBC Look North, the Northumberland Gazette and Rail Magazine, all wanting me to amplify the comments I made on the BBC web article over the weekend, about the need to communicate a clear date for the opening of the Northumberland Line. I myself am not quite sure why there has been no formal announcement as yet – especially as the full timetable has now appeared in the National Rail database as from 15th December. It’s important however not to “shoot the messenger” though, and I mentioned to the BBC journalist that whilst I would be happy to express my frustration on the lack of a date, I would not be wanting to criticise some of the programme board partners who I know are working very hard to get this resolved, and are in some cases just as frustrated as me! After which, interest in me participating in a Look North interview subsided, and I never got the promised call back to fix the time. Notwithstanding all this, a clear announcement of a date would be most welcome!
