On 1st September 2026, I emailed a number of local politicians and other local campaign groups with regards to the Northumberland Coast Loop; which would be a new rail route connecting Newcastle Upon Tyne to Edinburgh via North Tyneside and South East Northumberland. This email was circulated as a group to: Mr A. Ford, NEPTUG,Continue reading “Northumberland Coast Loop Update, September 2026”
Category Archives: Berwick Upon Tweed
Railnatter No. 319: The Tyne and Wear Metro, inc Washington extension and Metro to Morpeth?
On Wednesday 2nd September 2026, episode 319 of the long-running Railnatter series by rail engineer Gareth Dennis aired on YouTube (also available where you get your podcasts). As ever, it was a very interesting episode, covering a brief history of the system from its origins as the Tyneside electrics running on third rail (a liveContinue reading “Railnatter No. 319: The Tyne and Wear Metro, inc Washington extension and Metro to Morpeth?”
The Ancient Kingdom Railtour 22nd August 2026
In just a few minutes from the time of posting on Saturday 22nd August 2026, ‘The Ancient Kingdom’ railtour, operated by UK Railtours will depart from London King’s Cross towards Berwick-Upon-Tweed, calling to pick-up passengers at Potters Bar, Stevenage, Peterborough, and Doncaster, and setting down at Alnmouth for Alnwick is due to run, and fromContinue reading “The Ancient Kingdom Railtour 22nd August 2026”
‘The Tynesider’ Railtour 2026: ‘Tangmere’ on the Bedlington Balloon Loop. West from Bedlington before the Newbiggin extension?
On Saturday 4th July 2026, ‘The Tynesider’ railtour, operated by The Railway Touring Company and West Coast Railways, ran north from London to Newcastle; with the train continuing to Morpeth to take advantage of the ‘balloon loop’ formed by the East Coast Main Line (ECML) and the former Blyth and Tyne lines to turn theContinue reading “‘The Tynesider’ Railtour 2026: ‘Tangmere’ on the Bedlington Balloon Loop. West from Bedlington before the Newbiggin extension?”
Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG Meeting: 1st July 2026
Another great meeting of the Northumberland Branch tonight, with much discussion on buses, rail services (ECML, Northumberland Line, and Tyne Valley Line), and also of cycling integration with rail too. Membership is FREE, with the chance to have a real say in better buses, trains, and more! Why not sign up now? We aim toContinue reading “Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG Meeting: 1st July 2026”
Cllr Hunter, why not Berwick to Blyth by rail, not road for young people to access education, training, and employment?
A recent article by Cllr Hunter of Berwick, who also owns a road haulage business called DHH Contracts, has joined many of the voices calling for dualling the A1. In the article, she says that the lack of dual carriageway leads to vehicles being delayed, increasing costs such as driver hours and fuel, especially ifContinue reading “Cllr Hunter, why not Berwick to Blyth by rail, not road for young people to access education, training, and employment?”
Heatherslaw Corn Mill: FREE ENTRY to celebrate 50 years as a working museum and go there by train and bus?
The excellent Heatherslaw Corn Mill on Ford and Etal Estates, nearby to the equally great Heatherslaw Light Railway is offering FREE ADMISSION during June, July, and August 2026, as outlined in this article from The Chronicle Go by train and bus? To attend the museum without needing a car, it is easy to reach Heatherslaw CornContinue reading “Heatherslaw Corn Mill: FREE ENTRY to celebrate 50 years as a working museum and go there by train and bus?”
2026: The time for the ECML to do more for transport to, from, within, and through Northumberland alongside the A1?
In recent news, it has been revealed that in 2025, around eleven million tourists visited Northumberland, a new record, and the A1 has been stated to be a ‘key problem’, but does this overlook the role the ECML, other rail links and buses could be playing to reduce this key problem and enable more sustainableContinue reading “2026: The time for the ECML to do more for transport to, from, within, and through Northumberland alongside the A1?”
Blyth Bebside to Berwick-Upon-Tweed in just 50 MINUTES by rail: c.40 mins faster than going via Newcastle or Morpeth.
The Northumberland Line now complete, with all six stations now open and bustling, it is time to really set the sights on the next steps for the line, and in my view, it should be to make use of the existing connection from Bedlington headed west, not only to Morpeth, as put forward by SENRUG,Continue reading “Blyth Bebside to Berwick-Upon-Tweed in just 50 MINUTES by rail: c.40 mins faster than going via Newcastle or Morpeth.”
Mini Switzerland for Northumberland?
A very interesting video from transport campaigner and rail engineer Gareth Dennis on the ‘Mini Switzerland’ trial in the Hope Valley, UK. Much of the same lessons can be applied to Northumberland, using existing railway stations and buses, but operating them as a cohesive, intergrated system and not as a bus system that is separateContinue reading “Mini Switzerland for Northumberland?”
