Yesterday, I joined John from the Chathill Rail Action Group (CRAG) for a coffee and a chat about Chathill station, and the wider context of the ECML, the Northumberland Coast Loop and more besides in the brilliant surroundings of Barter Books, housed in the original Alnwick station. Could the fortunes of Chathill change in 2026,Continue reading “Coffee and a chat about Chathill and more at Barter Books 2.2.26”
Category Archives: ECML
The Northumberland Coast Loop heading into 2026: The second route between the Toon and Auld Reekie?
It has been another good year for the Northumberland Coast Loop campaign, but the work continues as we all head into 2026. Petition performing strongly Our petition to ‘Start a Newcastle – Edinburgh Rail Service via Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park‘ has, at time of writing gained the support of 1,049 people, thank you toContinue reading “The Northumberland Coast Loop heading into 2026: The second route between the Toon and Auld Reekie?”
Christmas Eve Update 2025: Alnmouth (for Alnwick) to Blyth Bebside in just 29 mins by rail?
A quick update for Christmas Eve 2025, and a final wish of a Merry Christmas to all! Bedlington, and Northumberland Park progressing towards completion! In this article from the Chronicle ‘Work on new Northumberland Line station making ‘great progress’ ahead of opening next year‘, it has been announced by contractors Morgan Sindall that Bedlington railwayContinue reading “Christmas Eve Update 2025: Alnmouth (for Alnwick) to Blyth Bebside in just 29 mins by rail?”
Northumberland Coast Loop Campaigns, Christmas 2025, and trains on the loop in May 2026?
First of all, I’d like to wish all readers of the blog a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, it has been a busy one lately with work and family commitments but starting to catch back up now! Sensational Stats The release of passenger figures in recent weeks has shown a tremendous number of peopleContinue reading “Northumberland Coast Loop Campaigns, Christmas 2025, and trains on the loop in May 2026?”
Northumberland Coast Loop station usage 2024/25: 1.245 million passengers in total.
With the recent publication of passenger figures for all of the existing railway stations in Northumberland in the Northumberland Gazette, a little analysis reveals the current and potential volumes of passengers who use these twelve stations between Berwick and Manors. The table above shows the stations on the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop from Berwick UponContinue reading “Northumberland Coast Loop station usage 2024/25: 1.245 million passengers in total.”
LNER Managers to attend Morpeth meeting on 20th November 2025
In this article from the Northumberland Gazette, full details are available for the SENRUG meeting on 20th November 2025, in central Morpeth, which will feature two LNER Managers attending as guest speakers to discuss the timetable changes on the ECML, the transition to Great British Railways (GBR), and wider aspects of things to come forContinue reading “LNER Managers to attend Morpeth meeting on 20th November 2025”
Pegswood Parkway on the ECML and N.C.L.: going Sandy style the way forward?
In a recent post about East Coast Main Line (ECML) capacity upgrades to enable more rail services between Newcastle and Edinburgh, such as the Northumberland Coast Loop, certain locations have already been identified by Network Rail for infrastructure changes, one of which is new loops in Pegswood area. This could have a major effect onContinue reading “Pegswood Parkway on the ECML and N.C.L.: going Sandy style the way forward?”
Belford and Beal Stations mentioned in North East Bylines
A recent article by North East Bylines, has mentioned the reopening of stations at Belford, and potentially Beal were referred to, alongside a new hourly rail service along the ECML between Newcastle and Berwick Upon Tweed. All three of these developments would be very much welcome, and more updates will be posted here once available.
ECML capacity enhancement options between Newcastle and Edinburgh from Network Rail
It is often said that the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Newcastle and Edinburgh is ‘full’; running the maximum number of trains reliably and safely each day due to constraints on the capacity of the line. The position of this campaign has always been that capacity of the ECML can grow to meet theContinue reading “ECML capacity enhancement options between Newcastle and Edinburgh from Network Rail”
‘Flying Scotsman’ needs a parallel ‘Stopping Scotsman’? Cross party collaboration for better Berwick rail services and call to invest in the ECML.
Collaborative calls for a ‘Stopping Scotsman’ service at Berwick, and elsewhere in the Scottish Borders area. A Facebook post by John Lamont MP and David Smith MP has highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the neighbouring MP’s either side of the Scottish Border on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) to see the services to Berwick-Upon-TweedContinue reading “‘Flying Scotsman’ needs a parallel ‘Stopping Scotsman’? Cross party collaboration for better Berwick rail services and call to invest in the ECML.”
The Northumberland Coast Loop 