The Northumberland Branch of North East Public Transport User Group (NEPTUG), formed in March 2026 exists to promote integrated bus and rail transport across Northumberland, as well as promoting active travel (walking, cycling etc) routes too. Membership is FREE to everyone, with online meetings during the Autumn, Winter and early Spring, and our first in-personContinue reading “Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG June 2026 Meeting in Morpeth”
Category Archives: Northumberland Coast Loop
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.”
Keswick’s ‘Virtual’ Station: A lesson in bus & rail integration for Alnwick and beyond?
A very interesting trial of a ‘virtual railway station’ in Keswick, Cumbria, UK has shown some FANTASTIC results in the past two years that it has run during the summer seasons of 2024 and 2025, and now is being introduced from 27th April 2026 as a year-round service. As part of the newly formed NorthumberlandContinue reading “Keswick’s ‘Virtual’ Station: A lesson in bus & rail integration for Alnwick and beyond?”
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?”
Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG: Campaigning together for better bus, rail, and active travel routes and services in Northumberland.
On Wednesday 1st April 2026 at 18:30, the first ordinary meeting of the Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG took place following the founding AGM on 4th March 2026. Please read below for more information about the meetings and what the group intends to do, but if you’d like to get involved, please feel welcome to joinContinue reading “Northumberland Branch of NEPTUG: Campaigning together for better bus, rail, and active travel routes and services in Northumberland.”
Bedlington Station opening: The end of the beginning?
Yesterday evening, Sunday 29th March, I travelled down to Bedlington station to see the final Northumberland Line station for myself, and one close to my heart as a born and bred Bedlingtonian! It is fantastic to see the town I grew up in once again reconnected to national network, but as the title suggests, IContinue reading “Bedlington Station opening: The end of the beginning?”
Northumberland Line nearing completion; lets see Newbiggin, the N.C.L., and Choppington station next!
On Sunday coming (29th March 2026), the final Northumberland Line station at Bedlington will finally open to passengers and mark the completion of this hugely successful but unfortunately much delayed project. The opening date of 15th December 2024 was much revised from original forecasts, and only two stations (Ashington, and Seaton Delaval) opened on thatContinue reading “Northumberland Line nearing completion; lets see Newbiggin, the N.C.L., and Choppington station next!”
The Forth, Blyth and Tyne rail route update 21.3.26
A little update on the campaign to date! Petition progress to date As of 21.3.26, the petition for the route (Start a Newcastle – Edinburgh Rail Service via Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park on Change.org) now stands at an amazing 1,142 signatures, and steadily continues to grow. Please click the link above if you haven’tContinue reading “The Forth, Blyth and Tyne rail route update 21.3.26”
North East Bylines: Northumberland Coast Loop inferred and from coal to commuting.
An interesting article from North East Bylines ‘A tale of two branch lines’ by Mark Corner which comes very close to mentioning the Northumberland Coast Loop campaign except in name, but it is a great read and I’d wholly recommend doing so! If the original writer, or any other wishes to write about the NorthumberlandContinue reading “North East Bylines: Northumberland Coast Loop inferred and from coal to commuting.”
NEWS: NEPTUG Northumberland Branch
It was a delight yesterday (Wednesday 4th March 2026) to be a part of establishing the Northumberland Branch of the North East Public Transport Users Group (NEPTUG). There are branches for most parts of the North East active, with the branches covering local authority areas, so there is a Newcastle Branch and North Tyneside BranchContinue reading “NEWS: NEPTUG Northumberland Branch”
The Northumberland Coast Loop 