The Northumberland line will edge closer to running passenger trains once more this August Bank Holiday, as Network Rail upgrades a key section of the route.
Work to remove and replace a railway bridge near Sharnford Close, Backworth with a more modern, seamless structure will boost reliability for freight trains now, and make it possible for passenger trains to run in the future.
Between Thursday 25 and Tuesday 30 August, engineers will also lay nearly 200 metres of new track and bolster the supporting landscape.
It’s part of the multi-million-pound Restoring Your Railways scheme to reintroduce a regular rail passenger service between Ashington and Newcastle by 2024 – 60 years after the line was closed to passengers during the Beeching cuts.
When complete, communities in towns like Ashington, Blyth and Newsham will be better connected to Newcastle. The regenerative scheme will also open up opportunities for economic growth, tourism, and support the ambitions of offshore gas and oil sectors.
Since work began in 2021, Network Rail has renewed more than eight miles of track and recently upgraded Feather Bed Lane bridge to ready the route for faster, more frequent services.
Luke Durston, senior sponsor for Network Rail said: “We’re making some fantastic progress on this unique, economically important scheme to offer a new, reliable rail service for communities in the north east.
“Over the bank holiday we’ll be upgrading a vital section of this route, which will take us one step closer to restoring passenger services to South-East Northumberland for the first time in a generation.”
Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County council, said: “It’s great to see progress the scheme is making and work like this clearly demonstrates the engineering challenges we are working through.
“With benefits not only for Northumberland but the wider region, every new structure or track improvement brings this fantastic scheme closer to completion.”
Image credit: Network Rail
