Tag Archives: Northumberland Coast Loop

N.C.L. October Update & Two Routes Along the Northumberland Coast?

On the 6th October, the Northumberland Coast Loop petition came to a close with the support of 742 people, thank you to all who signed it! Following the closure of the petition, I  reached out to Councillor H.G.H. Sanderson, present leader of Northumberland County Council by email. I recieved a postive response that the proposalContinue reading “N.C.L. October Update & Two Routes Along the Northumberland Coast?”

UK’s Tallest Christmas Tree at Cragside – A lesson in bus/rail connections?

This article from the Northumberland Gazette discusses the upcoming decoration of  a 42m high Giant Redwood being decorated at Cragside this Christmas, probably the largest Christmas tree in the UK. Given that this very popular National Trust site generates many trips year round, but especially for what is likely to be a spectacular in-person ChristmasContinue reading “UK’s Tallest Christmas Tree at Cragside – A lesson in bus/rail connections?”

N.C.L. September 2024 Update – Petition and Merch

N.C.L. Petition Update On our petition, the number is steadily rising and at time of writing stands at 684 signatures. A massive thank you to all who’ve supported it so far! Merch Currently looking into opportunities for some Northumberland Coast Loop Merch – more news on this front soon!

Little-known Line Could Boost Coastal Connectivity

The picture below shows Class 66 (66301) hauling the regular North Blyth to Fort William ‘Alcan’ tanks (filled with Alumina at Port of Blyth and taken to the Alvance smelter near Fort William) along the Morpeth North Curve which links the Hepscott Line between Bedlington and Morpeth to the East Coast Main Line. This freightContinue reading “Little-known Line Could Boost Coastal Connectivity”

Hinting at the Northumberland Coast Loop back in 1992: ‘The Alternative East Coast’

This video (Railways Of The North-East in Retrospect 1961 to 1968), at  20min 35seconds in starts with a section ‘The Alternative East Coast’ The narration of the video tells us that this was a diverted Edinburgh to Kings Cross service, hauled by 43109 due to the mainline being blocked near Morpeth (due to an accidentContinue reading “Hinting at the Northumberland Coast Loop back in 1992: ‘The Alternative East Coast’”

CRAG Campaign 4.5.24

The Chathill Rail Action Group (CRAG) is again campaigning for increased services to Chathill Station which is on the ECML between Berwick Upon Tweed, and Alnmouth (for Alnwick) stations. The recent Northumberland Gazette article Campaign gathers pace in bid to get more trains to call at Chathill Station discusses the campaign to date, with hopesContinue reading “CRAG Campaign 4.5.24”

N.C.L. 28th April 2024 – Alnwick and Cornhill Line reopening and A1 Dualling Debate

Disused Alnwick and Cornhill Line becoming the Borderline Greenway The first steps on reopening the Alnwick and Cornhill Railway as a greenway for walkers and cyclists has started in recent days, with trackbed clearance at the Alnwick end of the line beginning earlier this month. The route is being restyled as the ‘Borderline Greenway‘, andContinue reading “N.C.L. 28th April 2024 – Alnwick and Cornhill Line reopening and A1 Dualling Debate”

N.C.L. Petition Update 26th April 2024

The petition for the Northumberland Coast Loop has just hit 400 signatures! Thank you to everyone who has signed already and please keep sharing with friends and family, link is below: https://www.change.org/p/create-the-northumberland-loop-rail-services-from-berwick-to-newcastle-via-blyth?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1uoPI1NFGhjVZU4v8jLiU0N9fK4pMFI1SADFtmvsgBeqrJM-3af6CXsuE_aem_AZnn9kv1tAy4RY8PSQyr81W-QCJgIH7nyKFrHsg0ke_k3uPdHPS8DgCOlozyOk95uAJ9DsehfcE2Hh2Jadry0OFN Thanks, RH.

The Background to the N.C.L. Colour Scheme – ‘A Bright Future Ahead’

The N.C.L. orange background to maps and other ‘branding’ is a nod to the British Railways’ North Eastern Region ‘Tangerine/Deep Orange’ (Page 9, Teasdale J.D. (2009) A History of British Railways’ North Eastern Region, NERA) and which can be seen on signage on stations such as Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), which isContinue reading “The Background to the N.C.L. Colour Scheme – ‘A Bright Future Ahead’”