Government scales back of Blyth & Tyne scheme

PLANS to reinstate passenger services over the Blyth & Tyne route is to be scaled back before work has even begun.

As part of a Department for Transport (DfT) review of new rail projects aimed at reducing costs and accelerating delivery (Project SPEED), local authorities promoting the Northumberland scheme were instructed to find savings.

According to local media, the options offered by DfT officials were to either halve the planned frequency from half-hourly to hourly or axe the proposed station at Blyth Bebside. Officials reluctantly chose the latter.

£4m allocation

The move comes just three months after the project’s backers celebrated the Government’s decision to allocate £4 million towards developing detailed designs, acquiring land and preparatory work towards the reinstatement of trains between Newcastle and Ashington, via new stations at Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside and Bedlington, plus a new Metro interchange at Northumberland Park. As the land for the axed station has already been acquired by Northumberland County Council, it is expected that planning permission will still be sought in anticipation of opening at a later date. Trains could start operating in 2024.