Bidding for more trains in Northumberland

A bid is being made for more frequent train services at stations up and down Northumberland.
Coun Barry Flux at Cramlington Railway Station.Coun Barry Flux at Cramlington Railway Station.
Coun Barry Flux at Cramlington Railway Station.

At the same time as progress is being made on the reintroduction of passenger services between the south-east of the county and Newcastle, work has been taking place to seek improvements to East Coast Main Line services, including at Alnmouth and Chathill.

Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy and Anne Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick, have joined with Northumberland County Council in sponsoring a submission to the “Restore your Railways” fund with the hope of seeing more frequent stopping services between Newcastle and Berwick.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The request would see 100mph electric trains stopping at least hourly at stations from Newcastle including Cramlington, Morpeth, Pegswood, Widdrington, Acklington, Chathill, Alnmouth and Berwick giving many communities a hugely improved service.

The plans have been discussed at length with Department for Transport officials since March 2020 with more detail being submitted by March 5 this year.

Mr Levy said: “This is fantastic news for Cramlington and I am determined that the town will benefit from an improved rail service alongside what is proposed for Blyth and Seaton Delaval as part of the Northumberland Line scheme.

"More frequent stopping trains will be a huge boost for the town with current services often very busy. It will also help reduce on commuter traffic which makes travelling to work for many residents a daily chore."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun Barry Flux, whose Cramlington West ward covers Cramlington rail station, said: “It was great to see this year’s county council budget include funds to develop this project.

"Cramlington is on the East Coast Main Line but is poorly served by stopping services compared to similar towns. In particular there is a need for earlier trains given the first train is not until after 8am.

“To have more regular stopping trains would be a huge benefit to Cramlington and I hope that residents get behind the plans and together we can push to make then a reality.

"To help the Government understand how keen we are to see this happen we have set up a petition page with our fellow Conservative councillors up and down the main line so that people can show their support for this idea.”