NORTHUMBERLAND LINE LATEST

The railway between Ashington and Newcastle used to run both passenger and freight services until the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. Since then, freight trains have continued to use the line, primarily serving Lynemouth Power Station. The lack of passenger railway services in the area has contributed to local congestion due to car and bus travel being the only viable forms of transport for many.

The Northumberland Line will bring passenger trains back into service between Ashington and Newcastle. The line will stop at 6 local stations and is still on track to be completed and running by the end of this year.

The reintroduction of passenger services on the line has been an aspiration of Northumberland County Council for many years, and the current political, social, economic and rail industry context means that it can now be successfully delivered. As a result of being awarded development funding from the DfT, the council has been working alongside partners to develop the scheme.

WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?

In March 2022, the last planning permission required for the construction of the six new stations was received, and in June 2022 the Government approved the Transport and Works Act Order to allow the closure of level crossings, acquisition and use of land, as well as well as further work along the line.

With these important milestones reached, more enabling works began along the Northumberland Line. Below is a summary of some of the works completed so far.

● Site clearance is well underway - vegetation has been removed at various locations, and the Boots building in Bedlington and Arden House in Newsham have been demolished.

● Temporary site compounds have been established, with the main base for the construction team at the Newsham station site.

● Mining void works have gotten underway. This has included grouting (filling) at Seaton Delaval to make it safe to build on the land, and ground investigations at Northumberland Park and Bedlington to confirm if any grouting is required. In the New Year, these works will continued.

● The history of the area has played a key part in our works, with archaeologists working at the site of Newsham station unearthing the site of an Iron Age settlement.

● Track upgrades and renewals are well underway along the line, with 8km of works now completed.

● New infrastructure has been put in place, with three new underpasses under the line being constructed.

● New train drivers have been recruited by Northern. 20 train drivers that will operate services on the line are now undertaking training.

● Test services have started. These are providing residents, local schools and business leaders from Cobalt Business Park with a chance to ride the Northumberland Line and see works in progress in advance of the line opening.

Contributing To Communities

Local communities and businesses are at the heart of this project, and they are actively encouraged to get involved in the scheme. Below are just some of the key activities that have taken place to date:

● Cultural Programme launched, with hoardings installed in Ashington featuring local school children.

● Five construction apprenticeships have been created.

● Over 750 hours of staff time has been dedicated to social value initiatives to date, including over 70 hours of community liaison and over 140 hours of school engagement activity.

● 3 Institute of Civil Engineers QUEST scholarships completed and various work experience placements offered.

● £10 million of funding granted by the North of Tyne Combined Authority, to develop the Northumberland Line ten point plan – an ambitious and achievable package of projects that aligns to the Northumberland Line Economic Corridor strategic vision and the scale of the opportunity afforded by the reopening of the Line.

● Delivery of a series of public drop-in events in station locations, allowing local people to meet the project team face to face.

● Archaeology family event hosted during October half term at Newsham Primary school.

● £95,000 spent on local businesses through our principal contractor, Morgan Sindall.

● Targeted programme of local refugee support launched in May.

● Christmas raffle raising £1300 for local charities Community Food Friendship, Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter and Pathways 4 All.

Summary Of Works By Station

Northumberland Park

Surveys and ground investigation works have started. These will help confirm the make-up of the ground, which will in turn assist in finalising the construction methodology for the station, including whether any mining remediation is needed.

Seaton Delaval

Works completed so far include setting up a site compound and mining remediation, which will soon be completed. Following this, works will pause until Spring 2023.

Newsham

Works at Newsham station began with the demolition of Arden House, to the south of South Newsham Road (A1061), to create space for the new station and car park and the setup of the main works compound. The next stage of works will see piles being inserted into the ground.

Blyth Bebside

Preliminary work at Blyth Bebside station has included clearing the land of vegetation ahead of the construction.

Bedlington

Works began at Bedlington in October with the demolition of the former Boots building, followed by exploratory works relating to historic mining works in the area, to confirm the need for grouting (filling). To the south of the Bedlington station site, construction works to reinstate the disused railway sidings at Furnace Way have started.

Ashington

Works are underway in Ashington with the demolition of the old station platform and construction of the new platform, which is now underway. The first phase of track renewal works has also recently completed.

For more information, and all the very latest updates, visit www.northumberlandline.uk