An article in The Chronicle released today (7.11.25) states that Northumberland County Council is ‘committed’ to extending the highly successful Northumberland Line on to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Similar to the other places served by the Northumberland Line, Newbiggin lost its rail services in 1964 when the line closed to passengers, but unfortunately, the railway into Newbiggin did not survive in freight use, and was lifted decades ago, meaning that track would need to be relaid to head towards the original station site, but it may, or may not be possible to rebuild on the original station site due to developments in the town since 1964.
The detailed research into the feasibility of extending the line beyond Ashington will be investigated by staff at Northumberland County Council in February 2026 according to the news article; hot on the heels of the hopeful completion of Bedlington, and Northumberland Park stations, which are due to open in early 2026 (presumably January/February but no official date has yet been set for either station).
Northumberland Coast Loop alongside the Newbiggin extension?
Whilst this feasability study into a Newbiggin extension is being performed, it might also be useful for NCC staff to take a look at the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop, which in contrast to the Newbiggin Line is fully complete (being in regular freight use for the ‘Alcan’ train, as well as other railfreight, engineering, and occasional charter trains.
This proposed route wouldn’t itself require the building of any stations, or perhaps even the laying of any track; just bringing the current freight line into regular passenger use to provide a passenger rail link between Bedlington and Pegswood, which would enable direct ‘to, from, and within Northumberland’ trips, such as to Bedlington, from Blyth, or a link between towns such as Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Blyth directly.
Hopefully the team working on the proposed Newbiggin extension might also be enabled to consider the Northumberland Coast Loop route while looking at the options, and give a more detailed costing on works required to enable it?
The Northumberland Coast Loop 