The much anticipated Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line is set to open in the summer of 2024 but it is now understood that it could do so without stations at either Bedlington or Blyth Bebside. It is as yet unknow how long passengers wanting to travel from either location might be forced to wait but initial prediction are anywhere between a few weeks and a year.

The line which was closed to passengers on 30^th July 1964 has been part to an ongoing campaign by local people to see it reopened ever since. It has been taken up in Parliament by successive Labour MP’s in both Blyth Valley and Wansbeck and has been given significant backing by the South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG).

In 2013 Labour led Northumberland County Council, commissioned Network Rail to a study to examine the best options for the scheme. A more detailed feasibility study was commissioned in 2015 and envisioned a project running from Newcastle to Woodhorn Museum bringing economic benefits of £70 Million.

When the administration of the council changed in 2017 the Conservative group expressed the continued support of the local authority to reopen the line. However, in November 2017 they commissioned a further study to see whether initial costs and timescales could be cut by reducing the scope of the project. In 2019 when revised proposals were published stations at Woodhorn and Seghill had been removed from the plan.

Further cuts to the project were requested in 2021 when a meeting between Treasury officials, Andrew Gilligan, Boris Johnson's transport adviser, and officials from Northumberland County Council was asked to find cost savings. Options included cutting passenger services from two trains per hour to one, or cutting a planned station at Blyth Bebside. This threat was withdrawn when the secret meeting became public.

We cannot allow any station on the line to be deprioritised. The resources must be given to ensure all open on time.

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