More than 300 passengers enjoyed three separate trips on the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line on Saturday as part of the South East Northumberland Rail User Group's (SENRUG) campaign to reopen the line.
Dennis Fancett, chairman of SENRUG, told the News Post Leader the event had been a big success, but it wouldn't be repeated next year because it is hoped the route will reopen permanently.
The group is calling for a phased reopening of the line, with the first phase to extend the existing MetroCentre – Newcastle – Cramlington – Morpeth service on to Choppington and Bedlington.
The second phase would involve extending the service to Ashington and then extending beyond Ashington to a new station at Woodhorn, with a third phase to reopen the line completely.
The Ashington Future was chartered from Northern Rail with funding from Wansbeck Council and made three journeys on Saturday, the first for councillors MPs and stakeholders in the proposed scheme, with the second two sold out to members of the public.
The campaign has also included an online petition to 10 Downing Street
which was signed by 1,292 people.
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