The Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday 16th March 2025 marked the end of the ‘Newcastle United Trophy Drought’, with the first domestic football victory in 70 years for the club, with the last being in 1955. One of the stars of the match being the Blyth lad Daniel Burn, affectionately known as ‘Big Dan Burn’, and now having an assured place in Newcastle United history.
Today, the 17th March 2025, marks the ending of the ‘rail service drought’ suffered by Blyth since late 1964 with the reopening of Newsham Station on the Northumberland Line, a little over 60 year absence now ended.
With 158851 ‘The Palindrome’ being the first unit to serve Newsham station this morning, perhaps it might be fitting to name it in honour of Big Dan & the return of trains to Blyth; his hometown and the largest in Northumberland, newly reconnected to the rail network? Perhaps even being given an NUFC livery could be a possibility?
On the back of this, other fitting namings of units could be put forward too, but given the iconic win for Newcastle United, and strong local connection, a named Northern unit could be a fitting tribute to the events of recent days?
Blyth on the football map and the rail map, but bigger could beckon?
Dan Burn has certainly done Newcastle United and all the supporters proud in the Carabao Cup win at Wembley, but hopefully this is just one small step in his football career to come!
Similarly for Blyth, I would argue that a local rail service to/from Newcastle is just a starting point, with possibilities to extend beyond Newcastle at the south end, but also beyond Bedlington to Pegswood and into North Northumberland too, with clear support for Newcastle United flying from iconic places like Alnwick Castle captured online too…
A direct rail link from Newsham and Blyth Bebside to Alnmouth (for Alnwick) is already possible using the existing rail network, and if you’d like to support our campaign to see trains run over this route, please sign the petition here.
The Northumberland Coast Loop 