'We've doubled capacity': Opening date for 1st of 2 new Northumberland Line stations finally revealed
The opening date for the first of two new Northumberland Line stations still yet to serve passengers has finally been revealed.
The leader of Northumberland County Council has confirmed that the Northumberland Park station will open its doors on February 22.
It will leave Bedlington as the final station to open, with that expected in the following weeks. Northumberland Park will provide a key link with the Tyne and Wear Metro, as well as giving residents in North Tyneside access to the National Rail network for the first time.
In August, an extra £37.9 million was provided to ensure the project was completed following engineering challenges related to former mineworks. The council provided £10 million, alongside £17 million from the Department for Transport and £10.9 million from the North East Combined Authority.
Despite the fact that the opening of the final station on the line is now within sight, council leader Glen Sanderson was keen to stress the council has no intention of stopping there.
He said: “The next station will open on February 22 which will be Northumberland Park. After that it is Bedlington, and then the job is complete – except it’s not because we then want to go up towards Newbiggin.
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“I believe the mayor will be extremely generous with her money, and I and everyone else will make sure that is up and running within the next five years. We’re going to need the same amount of ambition and money to take this line further into the heart of Northumberland.”
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Rail operator Northern’s commercial director Alex Hornby was supportive of the council’s ambitions.
He said: “Obviously we would sit down with local authorities and examine what options are available. Our first priority is to make sure we deliver this well.
“We have growing demand and we’re trying to cover that with extra trains. We’ve doubled capacity on certain peak trains.
“In terms of new lines, that is something that if local authorities have the ambition, we’re aligned to the vision of growing the railway.”
While the news will be welcomed in North Tyneside, there will likely be further frustration in Bedlington. Previously, delays have led local residents and councillors to claim the town has been left at the back of the queue.
Blyth and Ashington MP Ian Lavery said: “Everybody is very much aware of it. Bedlington will be opening in March, and it will be great for the town.
“It has been a long time coming, and I look forward to that day.”