Northumberland Line to Reopen in 2024, Slashing Journey Times in Half and Reviving Historic Railway Towns

TL;DR:

• Regular train services to reopen in Northumberland Line in 2024, connecting communities to jobs and opportunities
• Journey times to be cut in half, new stations built, and historic railway towns revived
• The project is part of the government’s Restoring Your Railway programme
• Construction work has created almost 100 high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships
• The completed line will provide easy access to jobs, education and tourism opportunities in the city centre

Passengers in the North-East will soon enjoy greater access to business and education opportunities when the historic Northumberland Line reopens next summer. The line will connect Ashington and Newcastle, slashing journey times in half, with new stations built and historic railway towns revived. The project forms part of the government’s Restoring Your Railway programme, which aims to reopen old stations and lines across the country. Once complete, the line will provide easy access to jobs, education, and tourism opportunities in the city center, boosting the region’s economy. The completed line will also improve air quality by reducing congestion, as people will be encouraged away from their cars and onto trains.

Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson said the project would bring benefits for residents, businesses, and visitors for generations to come. The project has already created almost 100 high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the restoration of passenger services would drive tourism, boost local business opportunities, and encourage investment across the region.

Reviving Historic Railway Towns

Historic railway towns, which have not seen footfall of eager passengers since the heydays of The Beatles, will be revived with the reopening of the Northumberland Line next summer. The line’s construction work has already created almost 100 high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships, demonstrating the benefits it’s already having on the local community. The project aims to reconnect communities and improve connections, as well as boost the region’s economy through improving access to jobs.

Restoring Your Railway Programme

The Northumberland Line project forms part of the government’s Restoring Your Railways scheme, which has been reinstating local services and restoring closed stations and railway lines that were axed as a result of the Beeching cuts in 1963. The scheme has already seen the successful delivery of the Dartmoor Line, which reopened to passengers in November 2021 and has since doubled its passenger services and benefitted students studying in Exeter.

Easy Access to Jobs, Education, and Tourism Opportunities

Once complete, the Northumberland Line will provide easy access to jobs, education, and tourism opportunities in the city center for not only local residents but all those passing through too. The line will operate regularly 7 days a week, providing convenient access for all. The completed line will also reduce congestion, improving air quality in the area, as people will be encouraged away from their cars and onto trains.

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