Northumberland line reopens, carrying its first rail passengers since 1964
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Service between Newcastle and Ashington resumes after long and challenging £300m renovation project. A previously abandoned railway line between Newcastle and Ashington has reopened, with passengers able to use the service for the first time in 60 years.
The Northumberland line ran its first passenger service since 1964 on Sunday morning, leaving Newcastle at 7:57am, shortly after sunrise, stopping at Seaton Delaval and arriving in Ashington to cheering crowds. The return of the service follows a long and challenging £300m renovation project. Northern, the now-government-run operator, will run a half-hourly service on the 18-mile route, which will take about 35 minutes.
The leader of Northumberland county council, Glen Sanderson, described the reopening as an “exceptionally proud moment”, saying it had taken “years of planning and significant investment” . “Today shows what can be achieved when people work together to produce something that is brilliant, provides lasting social benefits for many and brings hugely significant economic benefits to the area,” he said.
The line was one of the victims of the Beeching rail cuts in 1964, when declining passenger use led to closure of 2,128 stations and more than 4,000 miles of track. There had been calls since the 1990s to bring back the service, with Northumberland council leading the push for its return in the late 2010s.
