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?”
Category Archives: Railtours
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?”
Peak over the ECML (Linlithgow to Keithley via Newcastle)
On Wednesday 17th June, the SRPS is operating a one-way special train over the ECML behind 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’ for its attendance at the KWVR Diesel Gala that weekend. To book tickets, please visit the SRPS website here: https://srpsrailtours.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/77003?catID=72311&fbclid=IwT01FWAROs-JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6pgodboUo8JKLHJbVHSAWDO5jvdOJMin-wPJcA4Pfd-HiylWl0VH7YHYNhAA_aem_o0Hl1_0YnyZUNHWCNI7PRQ
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!”
Almost a year on since ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’; need for the Northumberland Coast Loop and six years of Northern being in the DfT.
Today, the 1st of March 2026, is just a week ahead of the first anniversary of ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’ operated by the SRPS (the Scottish Railway Preservation Society) which ran on the 8th March 2025. Circular Tour: Linlithgow to Linlithgow via Carlisle, Preston, Newcastle, Bedlington, and Edinburgh A huge circular route around Scotland andContinue reading “Almost a year on since ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’; need for the Northumberland Coast Loop and six years of Northern being in the DfT.”
RAILTOUR REMINDER
A quick reminder of the railtour over the Northumberland Line is around noon tomorrow (12:00 Monday 25th August 2025), operated by West Coast Railways, and will take the proposed southbound Northumberland Coast Loop route (Edinburgh to Newcastle Upon Tyne via Bedlington). Will be great to see photos/videos of this service if you can get outContinue reading “RAILTOUR REMINDER”
Lunchtime Railtour (1Z84) over the Northumberland Coast Loop route via Bedlington on 25.8.25
A railtour running via the proposed southbound Northumberland Coast Loop route (from Berwick Upon Tweed , through Pegswood and Bedlington, then to Newcastle Central) has just had timings released on Realtime Trains, please click the link below for further information: Link to 1Z84 Dunbarton to Newcastle, 25.8.25 on Realtime Trains This is a railtour operatingContinue reading “Lunchtime Railtour (1Z84) over the Northumberland Coast Loop route via Bedlington on 25.8.25”
Nearing 900 Signatures on the N.C.L. Petition & Railtour via Bedlington News
As of late Sunday 17th August 2025, the petition to ‘Start a Newcastle – Edinburgh Rail Service via Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park‘ stands at a fantastic 898 signatures so far. This shows the continued and increasing support for the route to become established, which hopefully will come soon after the completion of stations inContinue reading “Nearing 900 Signatures on the N.C.L. Petition & Railtour via Bedlington News”
100 Days Since ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’
Today, Sunday 15th June 2025, marks 100 days since an early morning start at Linlithgow station on the 8th March, and an excellent railtour by SRPS Railtours around southern Scotland and northern England. The final leg of this railtour, was of particular interest to this campaign as it follows the proposed Northumberland Coast Loop route;Continue reading “100 Days Since ‘The Seven Counties Rambler’”
The Northumberland Coast Loop 