New hope for Ashington rail link

Posted by The Journal on Dec 28, 08 04:27 PM in News

Campaigners battling to restore passenger services on a rail line are hoping for progress following a Government-promised boost for transport spending.

Chancellor Alistair Darling announced ÃÂ£3bn investment in infrastructure projects in his Pre-Budget report, which will include funding for transport, housing, education and other construction schemes.

Now campaigners for the reopening of the Ashington Blyth and Tyne freight line to passenger trains are hoping the long-awaited project will benefit from a recession-busting spending spree.

Last summer the then rail minister Tom Harris gave the campaign a shot in the arm when he visited the line and declared the scheme to be both affordable and beneficial.

Passenger services have not run since the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, but they could be restored to Blyth, Ashington, Bedlington Station and Choppington if the route reopened.

Campaigners say the first phase of the scheme, linking Morpeth and Bedlington Station via Choppington, could be achieved for just ÃÂ£4.1m.

They are now waiting for the findings of a report by Network Rail, commissioned by the county council, which is expected to shed further light
on the full costs and feasibility of reopening the line.

Dennis Fancett, chairman of the South East Northumberland Rail Users' Group, which recently commissioned a special train to take passengers along the ABT line, said Government funding was the key to the campaign's success.

He said: "I am hoping that we can say we have a scheme here in Northumberland ready and waiting to go if ministers think the answer to our problems is to spend, spend, spend.

"This new study from Network Rail will give us capital costs and an element of the subsidy costs required. I do believe there is now a political will to see this scheme happen."

Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy, another leading campaigner for the reopening of the line, said: "The Ashington Blyth and Tyne scheme is the sort of project we should be pressing ahead with at a time of economic downturn. It is a question of securing Government funding and having it as part of a regional transport strategy. I still believe there is a chance of getting the trains running again in 2009, although that is now a big ask.

"I hope something will happen within 12 to 18 months and I plan to pursue this with vigour."

A county council spokeswoman said the report from Network Rail was due this month but has been delayed and is now expected in February or March.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk