Railway line to open with only two stations ready

A railway service will reopen "before Christmas" but with only two stations completed, a local authority has confirmed.

The Northumberland Line will initially operate between Ashington and Newcastle stopping only at Seaton Delaval and an existing station, Manors, with four more stations due to open in 2025.

Newsham is the latest to be delayed, due to what Northumberland County Council said was a "number of power, engineering and regulatory challenges".

Dennis Fancett from the South East Northumberland Rail User Group (Senrug) said: "It is more disappointing that we still don't know exactly when services will begin running."

The county council said the start date will be announced in the "coming days" as well as information on buying tickets.

The 18-mile line between Newcastle and Ashington will see passenger services return six decades after they ended.

It was initially hoped it would open with six new stations, but Bedlington, Bebside, Northumberland Park, and now Newsham, will open in 2025.

Line programme delivery director, Neil Blagburn, said teams had been "working around the clock" to complete Newsham.

"It has been our biggest and most complex sites and will be open in a matter of weeks," he said.

"Given the issues that we have experienced on this station, that in itself will be a significant achievement."

Mr Fancett said: "I don't challenge the decision to open with only two stations finished, but I do question a lack of information more generally.

"We still don't know what date we will see trains running, nor can people buy tickets or make their Christmas travel plans.

"This uncertainty threatens to make the whole opening a bit of a damp squib."

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