Will lines deliver for communities?
OWEN YOUNGER visits two places that will be connected to the new Northumberland Line – but not just yet
EXCITEMENT has been building as a new railway project in Northumberland gets well under way.
The Northumberland Line will partially reopen this summer, with passenger rail being brought back to the south east of the county for the first time since the 1960s, connecting Bedlington, Ashington and Blyth with Newcastle.
However, it was recently confirmed that some stations, including Bedlington and Bebside, will now not open until 2025.
With that in mind, I made the decision to head to Bedlington first, and then Bebside, to see what people thought of the idea of the Northumberland Line, as well as how they feel about the station delays.
When I arrived at Bedlington Station, I had a look at the work that was being done, before heading down the street and speaking to business owners.
John Moss, the owner of Buddies Pet Supplies, said: “We are now in our fourth year with this business and I think that it is a case of waiting and seeing what will happen with the Northumberland Line, and whether it will bring people into Bedlington.
“It is a small town and the lack of parking could be an issue if people leave their cars here and get on the train.
“It’s hard to know whether it will help or hinder the area, but even if it does prove to be the second of the two, I would rather it was here now as the delays are very frustrating and we feel like we are in limbo.
“It has always felt like Bedlington has been pushed to the side and is a forgotten place in Northumberland.
“One positive is that the eyesore of an old train station will be renovated and that will be great for the visual aspect of the area.
“I understand people’s reservations as everyone that has lived here, like I have for the last 30 years, feels
left behind.”
Next, I had a chat with Liz Uezzell, who runs Sonia’s DIY in Bedlington, who said: “This shop is unique as people come here from Jesmond, Whitley Bay, all over, for the specific things that they need.
“It is certainly not a tourist shop so I’m not sure how much of a difference the Northumberland Line will make to this business.
“People come here looking for very specific things but they also sometimes like to have a look around.
“The big issue here is that we don’t have a way to walk over the train station like other places do, which means things come to a standstill when a train is coming through the area.”
I then moved on to Bebside where I spoke to Jackie Edwards, who is a part time shop assistant and former manager at The Fat Butcher.
Jackie said: “The business is in a very good location which is why it has been thriving since it opened almost 12 years ago.
“This is the main shop and it has done really well, although in recent times the railway barriers have prevented some of our elderly customers from getting here, and making
the drivers have to go all the way around.
“When it arrives in Bebside, the Northumberland Line may be good for people working in town so I can see that being a positive.
“I served a gentleman who works on the railway and he said that there could be delays which will impact people even more.
“People like to come here as they have come here for over a decade, so I think it is important that they are able to do so.”
As I was leaving Bebside, I went to have a look at the work that is under way, and thought about the difference that the Northumberland Line will make to the local area.
I believe that it will definitely have a positive impact in Northumberland, especially for those who often travel between Ashington and Newcastle.
However, for those businesses on this route, I am not sure if the service will create quite as much positive change.
With that being said, it is clear that everyone is now eagerly anticipating the introduction of the Northumberland Line to the region, in order to see exactly what this change will be for themselves.