Category Archives: ECML

Railnatter 322: Newcastle Central to Cramlington, and NO to 1500v DC to Ashington?

In the last few hours, Gareth Dennis has uploaded a short segment of his interesting Railnatter 322 about the ECML between Newcastle and Edinburgh, if you’d like to view the full episode, drop back to our previous blog post covering it here. The short segment from Newcastle Central Station to Cramlington can be viewed below.Continue reading “Railnatter 322: Newcastle Central to Cramlington, and NO to 1500v DC to Ashington?”

ECML: Newcastle to Edinburgh on Railnatter No. 322

Coming on Wednesday 23rd September 2026 at 8pm is Episode 322 of the Railnatter series by rail engineer and author Gareth Dennis, and the topic of the night is the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Newcastle and Edinburgh; with the episode title of ‘Why This Beautiful Mainline Is A Mess’ Please click on theContinue reading “ECML: Newcastle to Edinburgh on Railnatter No. 322”

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 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”

Car dependent tourism a risk of ruining Northumberland?

A recent article from The Northern Echo sets our the case for a visit to Craster ‘beating’ Bamburgh, though both are listed as beautiful settings on the Northumberland Coast. However, the reason behind Bamburgh being beaten is perhaps a warning sign of what Northumberland risks; if we depend on car based tourism like the LakeContinue reading “Car dependent tourism a risk of ruining Northumberland?”

Alnwick, Northumberland: Transport Survey June 2026

Questions for all! What do you want to see from public transport in Northumberland? Which rail and bus routes would you like? Would you like to see buses running earlier and later in the day, possibly even night buses? Have you got any suggestions you’d like to put forward? Please leave a comment below withContinue reading “Alnwick, Northumberland: Transport Survey June 2026”

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.”