Category Archives: Northumberland Coast Loop

Coffee and a chat about Chathill and more at Barter Books 2.2.26

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”

N.C.L. Meeting in Morpeth

Please click the link below on the N.C.L. Ko-fi page for details on the proposed meeting at Morpeth Station on Saturday 7th February 2026. https://ko-fi.com/polls/Morpeth-Meeting-7th-February-2026-M4M11TC5BW All welcome to attend and ask questions about the campaign so far, hope to see you there! Petition progress so far is 1052 signatures for the Northumberland Coast Loop asContinue reading “N.C.L. Meeting in Morpeth”

Northumberland Line million passenger milestone, Northumberland Park opening, and the N.C.L. for Edinburgh to Amsterdam via Port of Tyne?

The success of the Northumberland Line keeps being proven: passenger numbers pass 1,000,000 since opening! On Friday 23rd January 2026, an event was held at Blyth Bebside station to mark the millionth passenger journey on the Northumberland Line since opening just 405 days before on Sunday 15th December 2024, as shown in this article fromContinue reading “Northumberland Line million passenger milestone, Northumberland Park opening, and the N.C.L. for Edinburgh to Amsterdam via Port of Tyne?”

Digital PAYG rail ticketing tested by Green Signals: A potential fix to the recent Pop card problems?

Please watch the video below from Green Signals about the digital pay as you go trial by East Midlands Railway, but a system that could have clear potential in places like Northumberland where many smaller stations are unlikely to get the infrastructure seen at major stations like Newcastle Central. A solution to current Pop cardContinue reading “Digital PAYG rail ticketing tested by Green Signals: A potential fix to the recent Pop card problems?”

The N.B.A.B.E rail link (Northumberland Coast Loop) to boost Bedlington to Newcastle train capacity?

The N.B.A.B.E. is an acronym for the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop rail route, and is derived from the stations it will pass through en-route, the three letter station code is included in brackets after the station name. Newcastle Central (NCL) Bedlington (BEJ) Alnmouth (for Alnwick) (ALM) Berwick Upon Tweed (BWK) Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) The firstContinue reading “The N.B.A.B.E rail link (Northumberland Coast Loop) to boost Bedlington to Newcastle train capacity?”

Million journeys milestone rapidly approaching, and a Green Signals podcast debate on extra carriages: 10th January 2026.

Northumberland Line nearing a million journeys A recent post from Northern, the DfT operator who runs trains on the Northumberland Line, has announced a competition (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/offers/competitions) for those using the Northumberland Line to enter, presumably ahead of the millionth passenger travelling on the route. This is a fantastic success for the line, with the predictionsContinue reading “Million journeys milestone rapidly approaching, and a Green Signals podcast debate on extra carriages: 10th January 2026.”

Lord Hendy backs extra Northumberland Line carriages: the N.C.L. an answer?

In a recent article from the Northumberland Gazette ‘Rail minister backs plans for additional carriages on the Northumberland Line‘, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, the Rail Minister has backed the calls for extra carriages to be sourced for the Northumberland Line. To quote from the article; ‘In the letter to Cllr Sanderson, seen by theContinue reading “Lord Hendy backs extra Northumberland Line carriages: the N.C.L. an answer?”

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?”

Cab rides along the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop

A pair of old videos on YouTube show the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop route, the first, from Benton Junction to Morpeth North Junction shows the northbound trip, whilst the second one shows the same route, starting on the Morpeth North Curve, and working southwards towards Benton Junction and Newcastle. It is important to note thatContinue reading “Cab rides along the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop”