This article from BBC News states that while the Northumberland Line is due to open before Christmas 2024, it will do so with only Ashington and Seaton Delaval Stations, with Newsham now delayed into 2025, joining the other stations of Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, and Northumberland Park.
A further announcement of an opening date is expected in the coming days.
While there have been notable difficulties surrounding the project with unmapped and challenging mineworkings to stabilise, horrendous weather conditions, and rampant inflation and shortages of materials, it has been more than a little disappointing to have so little communication forthcoming from those in charge of the project.
Delays can’t be helped, it is a complex project being built in a heavily mined region of the UK. That being said, communication of the developments has been to many rather poor, and rather than reliance on the rumour grapevine for news, or inferring it from disparate sources of information such as timetables etc; it would have been far better for an open and honest approach of explaining how long a delay is anticipated, and what the cause is at the earliest opportunity.
The Northumberland Line was originally due to fully open in December 2023; so it is already at least a year behind it’s original schedule, perhaps almost two by final completion, and with the line being closed since November 1964 to passengers, a few more months delay has been said by many ‘to not matter all that much’.
With that in mind, can we please see a more open approach to the project going forwards?
Better use of the Northumberland Line website.
In my own view, a clear, published expected date of completion for each station should be published on the dedicated Northumberland Line website, to act as a single, authoritative source of information, and if any further delays are anticpated, the reasons for this are clearly stated for all to see, squashing the often flawed rumour mill.
Please, can we have this actioned?
The Northumberland Coast Loop 