Campaigners seek local Edinburgh-Newcastle links

Campaigners are calling for an hourly local rail service north of Morpeth.

The South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) wants the existing Metrocentre to Morpeth route extended to Berwick, with stations re-opened at Belford and Beal.

The group is working alongside campaign group RAGES (Rail Action Group, East of Scotland), which wants a similar service between Berwick and Edinburgh with stations at Reston and East Linton re-opened. The two groups believe the routes should be linked to create a local rail service between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

SENRUG believes that while the route is served by inter-city trains, the line needs a local service serving its smaller stations.

“A through service such as this would create access to jobs and universities at either Newcastle or Edinburgh, and boost the economies of the smaller towns and villages in both Northumberland and southern Scotland,” said SENRUG Chairman Dennis Fancett.

“We particularly feel there is an urgent need for a regular throughout the day service to Pegswood and Widdrington in the first instance, which could be delivered in advance of the full scheme.”

He added: “With modern, electric, local trains now able to run at 100mph, the new service would only need a few extra passing loops to enable non-stop and limited-stop trains to overtake them.

“Department for Transport grants are available towards the cost of re-opening the stations, and as a first step we are pressing Northumberland County Council to commission a study to confirm the feasibility of the scheme.

“In Scotland, this work has already been done. And if a local service would work for Scotland, then it should do so for Northumberland as well.”