Northumberland Line Progress Update: New Stations Set to Open as Community Engagement Continues
June 2025 - The Northumberland Line project continues to make significant progress, with passenger services now running between Ashington and Newcastle Central while construction advances on three additional stations expected to open later this year.
Current Services and Future Expansion
The railway currently serves five stations along the route: Newcastle Central, Manors, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, and Ashington, with journey times of just 35 minutes between the terminal stations. Three additional stations - Northumberland Park, Blyth Bebside, and Bedlington - are under construction and scheduled to open before the end of 2025.
Passengers can connect to the Tyne and Wear Metro at Manors (and future Northumberland Park station) for onward travel to destinations including Newcastle Airport, Tynemouth, and South Shields. Integrated ticketing is available through the Nexus Pop Card system.
Recognition and Community Impact
The project's commitment to social value has been recognized with Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's community team receiving a highly commended award at the 2025 Women in Rail Awards. The recognition highlights the project's work in promoting women's participation in the rail industry, including the Women into Construction programme and educational initiatives for young girls interested in engineering careers.
Public Engagement Continues
The Northumberland Line Photographic Journey exhibition, documenting the project's history and progress, continues to tour local venues. After recent appearances at Astley Park Pavilion and Seaton Valley Community Council's Party in the Park, the free exhibition has attracted over 3,600 visitors. The next stop is Killingworth Library in August 2025.
Heritage Railway Milestone
A related heritage project has reached a significant milestone, with volunteers at the Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway achieving the halfway point in their restoration of the 1-kilometer tourist railway adjacent to Woodhorn Museum in Ashington. The volunteer-led project, which began in 2023, recently welcomed construction students from Northumberland College who helped build a platform wall using bricks donated from the old Bedlington Station demolition.
Celebrating Railway Heritage
In a ceremony at Ashington station on June 26, Northern unveiled special artwork on a Class 158 train named "The Northumbrian." The colorful vinyl features local landmarks including Seaton Delaval Hall, Blyth Beach Huts, Woodhorn Colliery, The Angel of the North, and celebrates railway pioneer George Stephenson, marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the North East.
Construction Updates
Bedlington Station saw the completion of three sets of essential overnight works in June, requiring temporary suspension of train services with replacement bus services operating between Newsham and Ashington. The work enabled significant progress on the new station platforms.
Northumberland Park Station construction continues with the installation of a prefabricated lift shaft and staircase providing passenger access from Algernon Drive. Work is progressing on platform coping stones.
Blyth Bebside Station development includes platform and footbridge installation, along with construction of footpath connections to the new A189 foot and cycle bridge. Car park surfacing and landscaping are ongoing ahead of the station's opening.
Newsham Station, which began receiving passenger services on March 17, 2025, continues to see completion work on road configuration and car park areas on both sides of the track.
Upcoming Traffic Management
Several road closures are planned to facilitate construction:
- A189 Blyth Bebside: Overnight closures (8pm-6am) continue until July 6 between Kitty Brewster Bridge and Three Horse Shoes roundabout
- A1061 Newsham: Weekday overnight closures (8pm-6am) beginning July 7 for up to three weeks, affecting bus services including X8 and X10 routes
- Bedlington: Multi-phase traffic lights on Station Road and Ravensworth Street from July 14-18 (10pm-5am)
Economic Benefits
Beyond passenger services, the line continues to support freight operations, serving both Lynemouth Power Station and the Port of Blyth, contributing to the region's economic development.
The project represents a significant investment in North East England's transport infrastructure, reconnecting communities that lost rail services decades ago while providing sustainable transport options for thousands of daily passengers.
For the latest updates and construction information, visit the official Northumberland Line website or sign up for regular newsletters.
