This article from The Guardian seems to infer a reference to the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop while talking about the soon to open Northumberland Line, could we see it in 2025 with just a modest further investment?
‘North of Blyth, the line forks with one branch heading west to Morpeth’ is a great recognition of the Hepscott Line and its connectivity back onto the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
Articles such as this almost immediately sell the case for the Northumberland Line to be extended towards Morpeth and destinations north by using this existing route, but it is important to note that the Northumberland Coast Loop route wouldn’t offer a direct connection into Morpeth station itself.
This is due to the line having a second fork at Hepscott if coming from Blyth, with the left hand route going to Morpeth station and then back to Newcastle, while the right hand route would skirt the north eastern edge of Coopies Lane industrial estate and join the ECML facing Pegswood and Berwick Upon Tweed (see image below).
To give access to Morpeth for places like Morpeth Chantry, the proposal would see services stop at Pegswood, a station positioned between Morpeth and Ashington, which would allow access to places like Morpeth Chantry or Woodhorn Museum for services taking a Newcastle to Berwick via Blyth route, which would offer a ‘coastal route’ for trains using the existing infrastructure mentioned in the above article.
The possibilities of such as route are potentially huge from a tourism perspective; spending time at destinations in South East Northumberland and North Tyneside such as Seaton Delaval Hall (National Trust), Blyth Battery, Woodhorn Musuem and the Stephenson Steam Railway, then heading north to places such as Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei, Bamburgh Castle and many more, as well as offering a good route for commuters and leisure travellers within Northumberland itself.
In correspondence with Councillor H.G.H. Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, and the office of Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, this proposed route has recieved a warm welcome, the track and stations either already exist or are well underway, so could we see this route in time for Railway200, even if just a few trains per day?
It might require some additional work beyond that undertaken for the Northumberland Line, but given the opportunities, could it be a quick win?
The Northumberland Coast Loop 