Passenger Boom Continues on Northumberland Line With Northumberland Park Set to Open

More than one million passenger journeys have now been made on the Northumberland Line, as the opening date for its next station is formally announced.

The milestone comes just over a year after passenger services returned to the route in December 2024, ending a 60-year absence. The reopening was delivered through a partnership involving Northumberland County Council, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and train operator Northern.

Trains currently serve Newcastle, Manors and the newly built stations at Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside and Ashington. A full journey along the line takes about 35 minutes, with single fares capped at £3.

It has now been confirmed that Northumberland Park station will open to passengers on Sunday 22 February. The new stop will link the Northumberland Line directly with the Tyne and Wear Metro network, allowing easier interchange between train and Metro services.

Passenger numbers have been particularly high on weekday morning peak services and on trains used by football supporters travelling into Newcastle on matchdays. Most services on the route operate with two carriages, although Northern aims to double these to four during the busiest periods.

However, the operator says this is not always possible due to limited availability within its fleet, which is required to run more than 2,650 services across the North of England. Platform capacity constraints at Newcastle station can also restrict the use of longer trains. Northern says it is working with industry partners to explore options to increase capacity.

Services currently run twice an hour during the daytime from Monday to Saturday, with one train per hour in the evenings and on Sundays. The maximum peak-time single fare between Newcastle and Ashington remains £3, with a return priced at £6. Off-peak singles cost £2.60, with returns at £5.20.

Work is continuing at Bedlington station, which is expected to open to passengers in the coming months.

Cllr Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said:

"This is a remarkable achievement which has exceeded all our expectations. For the county council it hasn't always been an easy journey but we have never wavered in our commitment to create and deliver this nationally important project. The Northumberland Line has always been about more than transporting people from A to B - it's about changing lives and bringing new opportunities to our fantastic county. We're also delighted to be confirming yet another milestone - the opening of our next station at Northumberland Park, with Bedlington to follow in the very near future. In just over a year since the first passengers boarded a train in Ashington, we've over a million reasons to reflect on its success and I am so proud of the county council for leading on this transformational scheme."

Alex Hornby, Northern’s commercial and customer director, said:

“Hitting this massive milestone just over a year after the opening of the line is a fantastic achievement. It reflects so positively on everyone at Northern, who deliver the service each and every day, as well our trusted partners. This shows just how successful the line has been for our communities in Northumberland, opening up a range of new opportunities by providing fast and affordable transport to Newcastle and throughout the region. There’s a reason for each and every journey and it’s been fantastic to hear the line is allowing customers to get to work and important appointments, visit family and enjoy days out with friends."

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

“It makes a huge difference being on the railway map and local people are already seeing that for themselves in Blyth and Ashington. That's why we stepped in with £10.9m to make sure the Northumberland Line is completed as planned so that even more communities can benefit. I’m thrilled Northumberland Park will be opening next month, allowing passengers to switch easily between train and Metro using Pop on a phone or smartcard for their whole trip. This means if you’re travelling by rail and Metro, you can benefit from our cheaper regional fares which are helping to keep travel costs as low as possible. This will be a lifeline for our communities – including many students and young people, so I can’t wait to see it up and running.”

Image: Nexus