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Delayed third station opens on new railway line

Daniel Carr A sign saying Newsham is prominent with a red sign showing the British Rail logo in white above it. To one side is a sign saying Platform 1 and Platform 2. A bridge can be seen going across the line Daniel Carr
Newsham had been expected to open when passenger services on the Ashington Line resumed in December 2024

The delayed third station on a new railway line will open to passengers on Monday.

Newsham, on the Northumberland Line, had been expected to open when passenger services between Ashington and Newcastle resumed in December.

Campaigner Dennis Fancett, Chair of the South East Nortumberland Rail User Group (Senrug), said he was "very pleased" it was open.

"We were given a date of early in the year, we're now into March, but still it's very good news that it's finally happening," he said.

Northumberland County Council An aerial view of the new Newsham station which includes a road bridge, a large car park and a pedestrian bridge over the line.Northumberland County Council
Newsham station was described as the biggest and most complex site on the line

It was initially hoped the 18-mile (29km) line would open with six new stations, but only two, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, were completed when services began in December.

Speaking in 2024, line programme delivery director Neil Blagburn described Newsham as the "biggest and most complex site" on the line.

Northumberland County Council Taken from behind a wire fence, you can see lots of construction work on a road bridge above a rialway line. A digger is at work on the structure itself Northumberland County Council
The construction of Newsham station included a new £30m road bridge

It included the construction of a £30m road bridge which opened in August 2024.

The station's original signal box was found to be structurally unsound and was also demolished.

Mr Fancett said: "It's actually a brand new station because it is in a slightly different position and there is absolutely nothing left of the old station."

Geographic/Chris Morgan Newsham signal box is a square redbrick building and behind it is a footbridge crossing the line.Geographic/Chris Morgan
The original signal box of the old station was demolished

Daniel Carr, Conservative councillor for the South Blyth ward, said: "It was promised all those years ago and finally it's here.

"I think the station will be used even more than Blyth Bebside which will hopefully open later this year."

Construction work on the station meant delays for drivers in recent months, but Carr hopes the station will ease congestion across the whole town.

"These kind of transport hubs are really needed and I think we'll see a reduction in the number of cars leaving Blyth"

"I think Northern will need to put on extra coaches."

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