N.C.L. 28th April 2024 – Alnwick and Cornhill Line reopening and A1 Dualling Debate

Disused Alnwick and Cornhill Line becoming the Borderline Greenway

The first steps on reopening the Alnwick and Cornhill Railway as a greenway for walkers and cyclists has started in recent days, with trackbed clearance at the Alnwick end of the line beginning earlier this month. The route is being restyled as the ‘Borderline Greenway‘, and envisions the full route forming a 100mile loop from Alnwick northwards to Cornhill, across to Berwick, then back down to Alnmouth (sharing NCN Route 1) and back to Alnwick.

The northern section of the Northumberland Coast Loop between Alnmouth and Berwick could serve sections of this loop, and allow for public transport access for those using it.

Please click the link below to view the BBC article on the scheme:

Work begins to reopen railway line after 71 years

Northumberland Coast Loop rather than A1 Dualling?

Also in recent news has been the A1 north of Morpeth, with Environmental campaigners demand more answers on plans to dual A1 in Northumberland, with questions being asked by the environmental group about road safety, as well as meeting Net-Zero targets set for both the county of Northumberland as well as wider UK. The impact of the Northumberland Line was also raised in the above article, with Coun Sanderson ‘…added that the Northumberland Line project would help to take cars off the road by providing a reliable rail link between south east Northumberland and Newcastle.‘

The Northumberland Coast Loop could be a way to introduce a further ‘reliable rail link’ between south east Northumberland, north Northumberland and Scotland, and taking cars off the road on these trips too, building upon the investment in the Northumberland Line by utilising the existing line linking the lines between Pegswood and Bedlington.

Using this existing rail connection could reduce existing car traffic on the A1, and absorb future growth of traffic, and rail travel is a far safer mode of transport than driving so would also reduce accidents and injuries resulting from them.

Better public transport can deliver the economic growth, tackle inequality and cut emissions.