Below is a quick summary of the Northumberland Coast Loop Rail Campaign Lifetime near the Line I have spent all 34 years of my life living in Northumberland, and always within a few miles of the proposed rail route; it is a place I know very well and love deeply. The railways of this areaContinue reading “Timeline of the Northumberland Coast Loop Rail Campaign”
Author Archives: hogg1905
Response to David Smith MP, North Northumberland on A1 Junction Improvements, BUT is improving and upgrading ECML the real solution?
As a Northumberland resident and a frequent user personally of the A1, it was very welcome to see David Smith, MP for North Northumberland meeting with officials from National Highways to show them several problematic junctions along this stretch of road between Morpeth and Berwick. For those unfamiliar with it, it is a mixed routeContinue reading “Response to David Smith MP, North Northumberland on A1 Junction Improvements, BUT is improving and upgrading ECML the real solution?”
The Seven Counties Rambler in Retrospect and N.C.L. Target 2030
On Saturday 8th March 2025, I was one of the many passengers aboard ‘The Seven Counties Rambler‘, operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. It promised to be an epic and spectacular tour of Southern Scotland and Northern England, passing through Edinburgh, the outskirts of Glasgow, before heading south to Carlisle, a big loop takenContinue reading “The Seven Counties Rambler in Retrospect and N.C.L. Target 2030”
48hrs until The Seven Counties Rambler heads from Newcastle to Edinburgh via Bedlington (aka the Morpeth Avoiding Line)
On the evening of Saturday 8th March 2025, a pair of Class 37 locos leading ‘The Seven Counties Rambler‘ railtour, operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society will depart Newcastle bound for Edinburgh, via the Northumberland Line, marking the inaugural railtour over the line since reopening for passenger trains in December 2024. The section ofContinue reading “48hrs until The Seven Counties Rambler heads from Newcastle to Edinburgh via Bedlington (aka the Morpeth Avoiding Line)”
From Newcastle, to Bedlington, and then Edinburgh by rail: just one week to go!
It is just one week until ‘The Seven Counties Rambler‘ a railtour operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society is due to run along the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop route between Newcastle and Berwick/Edinburgh via Bedlington, this happening on the 8th March 2025. Haulage over the Newcastle – Edinburgh via Blyth section is due toContinue reading “From Newcastle, to Bedlington, and then Edinburgh by rail: just one week to go!”
Newsham Station Opening News
News has broken today that Newsham Station on the Northumberland Line is now due to open on Monday 17th March 2025. This third station opening marks continued progress of the Northumberland Line project and a ‘halfway mark’ with three completed stations and three remaining to be opened up (Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, and Northumberland Park). AsContinue reading “Newsham Station Opening News”
February Fun All Done: Two Days out by Rail from Alnmouth
This week has been a rail-filled one with family and friends, with the first a trip to York on Tuesday 25th, and a second a trip to Edinburgh on Friday 28th. Both trips started at my local station, Alnmouth (for Alnwick), accessed by using the car as travelling with my young family. Parking on bothContinue reading “February Fun All Done: Two Days out by Rail from Alnmouth”
Alnwick Castle in Top 5 Trainsplit Rankings. Response from the N.C.L.
A recent Chronicle article outlined how railway ticket company Trainsplit has listed Alnwick Castle as one of the UK’s Top 5 filming locations within easy access by rail. It is great to see sustainable modes of travel to fantastic attractions such as Alnwick Castle being promoted; people need and should have access to travel toContinue reading “Alnwick Castle in Top 5 Trainsplit Rankings. Response from the N.C.L.”
Two Weeks Until Newcastle to Edinburgh via Bedlington on ‘The Rambler’ and an Overlooked Option for Expansion of the Northumberland Line?
In the late evening of 8th March 2025, a pair of Class 37’s (most likely 37403 ‘Isle of Mull’ and an as yet unidentified classmate) will haul the final leg of SRPS operated ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’ from Newcastle back to Edinburgh via the Northumberland Line. This railtour will pass through Manors, then the underContinue reading “Two Weeks Until Newcastle to Edinburgh via Bedlington on ‘The Rambler’ and an Overlooked Option for Expansion of the Northumberland Line?”
110,000+ Passengers since Opening, Newsham Station Opening Soon and Blackstone Funding for Extensions; Lot’s of Northumberland Line News!
The last few days marks a few important pieces of news from the Northumberland Line project, with an expansion of the line to Newbiggin By The Sea proposed yesterday, and opening of Newsham Station in March announced today; each piece has important relevance to the Northumberland Coast Loop campaign, and will be outlined separately below.Continue reading “110,000+ Passengers since Opening, Newsham Station Opening Soon and Blackstone Funding for Extensions; Lot’s of Northumberland Line News!”
The Northumberland Coast Loop 