The Secretary of State was shown around Bedlington Station's former train facility to see if passenger trains could be brought back onto the now freight-only route – 44 years after the service was closed.

The minister said he would look at the economics of the proposal, although he stressed the rail network was more important than ever.

"I'm here at the invitation of Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy, who has made it clear how important it is to get passenger trains running back along this line," he said.

"We have seen a huge increase in the numbers of people using the rail network, proving it can be a success.

"There are more people on the rails now than at any time since 1946.

"But we do have to look at the economics of the proposal to bring passenger trains back onto this freight line."

The Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line last saw passenger trains fully run the route in 1964.

The service was cancelled as part of Dr Richard Beeching's report into the rail network, The Reshaping of British Railways, which led to the closure of 2,000 stations nationally and the uprooting of 5,000 miles of track.

But campaigners promoting the re-opening of the route say it could provide a vital transport link to integrate Northumberland into the Tyne and Wear conurbation.

Dennis Fancett, chairman of the South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (Senrug), said they had a very strong case.

"As far as I can see this really is a no-brainer," he said.

"In this economic climate anything that can be done to improve access so people can travel to and from their jobs has to be a good thing.

"We have done study, after study, after study, and now it really is time to actually start doing something.

"The tracks are already here, freight trains are running along the line, so why can't we run passenger trains as well?"

A full re-opening of the line could see a route created from Benton to Bedlington, via Newsham, with two connecting services – one from Newcastle to Ashington, via Morpeth and Bedlington, and the second from Newcastle to Ashington and Woodhorn, via Benton, running through Blyth Valley.

A station could also be built at the new Woodhorn museum, along with a new one at Choppington.

In June 2008, Senrug ran three passenger trains on the line, with a petition with 1,200 signatures on it.