Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[snowball]

Press release

Network Rail begins transformational work to reopen Northumberland line

Work begins to reintroduce a regular rail passenger service between Ashington and Newcastle Project involves upgrading track and signalling, opening six new stations and three new footbridges Aims to support communities, economic growth and regeneration in Northumberland and surrounding areas

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

A project to transform services in the North East is well underway after Network Rail completes work to renew a section of track in Newsham, in preparation for the pioneering project to reopen the Northumberland line.


This milestone marks the completion of the first physical piece of work on the project to reintroduce a regular rail passenger service between Ashington and Newcastle, after the line was closed to passengers in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts. The essential work involved renewing 600 yards of rails and componentry, which had been used exclusively by freight trains for many years.


Network Rail were able to commence early work after the Department for Transport provided £34million from the Restoring Your Railway fund towards the momentous project in January 2021, with further funding set to be announced once the final designs are approved.


Working in partnership with Northumberland County Council, Northern and the Department for Transport, the transformational project aims to stimulate and support economic growth, regeneration and community development in Northumberland and the surrounding regions.


The project will provide new and improved transport links for passengers by upgrading 18 miles of track and signalling, opening six new stations and three new footbridges. The Northumberland line scheme is on track to welcome the return of passenger trains by 2024.

 

[Mollman]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/new...land-train-line-contractor-confirmed-21228517

Plans to reintroduce passenger trains between Ashington and Newcastle progress as contractor confirmed​

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has been appointed as the primary contractor for the Northumberland Line project

General view of Bedlington Station which has been shut since 1964. (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)


The contactor to build six new train stations between Ashington and Newcastle has been confirmed.
The Northumberland Line project aims to boost education, employment and housing prospects for the region by reintroducing regular passenger trains in the area by 2024.

Northumberland County Council is working with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Trains Ltd on the development.
And now Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has been appointed as the Primary Contractor on the Council's new stations framework contract for the Northumberland Line project, and contractual documentation is now being concluded.

Initially, the award includes supporting the conclusion of the detailed design and delivery plans for the six stations and bridges.

Subject to funding for the delivery of the full scheme being confirmed by the Government, and the recently submitted Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application being approved, the framework provides for the contractor undertaking the construction, which is estimated at £40m and currently scheduled to commence in early 2022.
Simon Smith, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said: "We're incredibly pleased to support Northumberland County Council on this ambitious project.
https://factstherapy.com/symptoms-o...ucizKQ6U2AV4f5n3zjk0-uhZ7xCC01lAomMvX1Ni594Br


"We believe in enhancing communities and creating long-term social and economic opportunities for everyone.
"We're excited to continue working with the local communities in Northumberland to improve local transport links and create a lasting legacy in the area."

​

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure delivers some of the UK's most complex and critical infrastructure for public and private customers.
With over 2,000 employees, their engineering expertise and emphasis on building long-term relationships ensures the delivery of safe, innovative and responsible infrastructure across the UK.
Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: "We're delighted to have appointed Morgan Sindall Infrastructure.

"As a hugely respected company with a proven track record, we're confident they will carry out a first-class job on this extremely important and high-profile project.
"The tendering process was extremely competitive and I'm grateful to all those contractors who clearly put a lot of time and effort into the bidding process."


In May the County Council also submitted a TWAO application to the Secretary of State, which is used for authorising new rail or tram schemes.
138358285460

Earlier this year the Department for Transport provided £34m towards detailed design and preparatory works to allow for the reintroduction of a regular rail passenger service between Ashington and central Newcastle, with several stops in between.
The project will also upgrade 18 miles of track, create three new footbridges, underpasses and new signal locations. The whole scheme is projected to deliver economic benefits of up to £470m.

 

[Killingworth]

"Initially, the award includes supporting the conclusion of the detailed design and delivery plans for the six stations and bridges.

Subject to funding for the delivery of the full scheme being confirmed by the Government, and the recently submitted Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application being approved, the framework provides for the contractor undertaking the construction, which is estimated at £40m and currently scheduled to commence in early 2022."

Average time to get a TWAO approved is 6 months, or so DfT advised when the Hope Valley scheme was being processed. This one must surely be fast tracked, nevertheless " reintroducing regular passenger trains in the area by 2024" seems optimistic. 2025 for scheduled trains may be more likely.

 

[stuu]

Call me a cynic, but I strongly suspect there is a political motive to get this done ASAP

 

[BrianW]

Call me a cynic, but I strongly suspect there is a political motive to get this done ASAP

Next General Election scheduled for 2 May 2024.
Time for some underpromise and 'early' delivery.
Reminds me of hordings on so many road projects saying 'completed n months early'- easy to finish 'early' if you add months to the contract period in the first place.

 

[Paula hewson]

Call me a cynic, but I strongly suspect there is a political motive to get this done ASAP

The irony for the Tories is that they are too late going after seats in North East. Due to population decreases across the North of England, the number of MPs is reducing whilst increasing in London and Home Counties. If I was Boris, I would spend taxpayers cash where it has always been spent. Sarf of Watford!!

 

[swt_passenger]

"Initially, the award includes supporting the conclusion of the detailed design and delivery plans for the six stations and bridges.

Subject to funding for the delivery of the full scheme being confirmed by the Government, and the recently submitted Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application being approved, the framework provides for the contractor undertaking the construction, which is estimated at £40m and currently scheduled to commence in early 2022."

Average time to get a TWAO approved is 6 months, or so DfT advised when the Hope Valley scheme was being processed. This one must surely be fast tracked, nevertheless " reintroducing regular passenger trains in the area by 2024" seems optimistic. 2025 for scheduled trains may be more likely.

The TWAO application doesn’t cover 100% of the work, most of the new stations and car parks etc are separate normal planning applications, and the track is already in use. The main focus of the application is stuff like level crossing changes or closures, and permission to eventually run a train service. (Based on a quick scan…). So a lot of the planning procedures are already well under way on a different timescale.

 

[CEN60]

The TWAO application doesn’t cover 100% of the work, most of the new stations and car parks etc are separate normal planning applications, and the track is already in use. The main focus of the application is stuff like level crossing changes or closures, and permission to eventually run a train service. (Based on a quick scan…). So a lot of the planning procedures are already well under way on a different timescale.

Some work will be carried out under NR "permitted development rules" also.

 

[swt_passenger]

Some work will be carried out under NR "permitted development rules" also.

Yes so I noticed. It’s all a bit different to some other current projects, such as EWR…

 

[bramling]

The irony for the Tories is that they are too late going after seats in North East. Due to population decreases across the North of England, the number of MPs is reducing whilst increasing in London and Home Counties. If I was Boris, I would spend taxpayers cash where it has always been spent. Sarf of Watford!!

I'm not sure that would necessarily work that well. London is dead for the Conservatives for the foreseeable future, and ongoing Mayor versus Conservatives games are likely to be only serving to lose them the few remaining suburban seats they still have. The wider Home Counties are largely taken for granted by the Conservatives, but only a "New Labour" type setup with a Blair-style figure is likely to represent a threat here, and we don't have that at the moment, nor are likely to do -- and even that would only be a threat in marginal places like Basildon or Stevenage. The Lib Dems seem as ineffective as ever so they're nothing to worry about either.

So they may as well try and keep some of the Northern seats. Personally I'd also be looking to go for some of the provincial Labour city suburban seats, but some of these seem out of reach perhaps due to high student populations.

We appear to have a consensus in terms of voter behaviour for the time being:
Scotland - SNP (except for borders region)
London - Labour
Inner Cities - Labour
South Wales - Labour
North East - Marginal
Everywhere else - Conservative

 

[Robertj21a]

Are we going a bit......off track...?

 

[zwk500]

Are we going a bit......off track...?

I think the threads been completely derailed!

 

[Bald Rick]

Average time to get a TWAO approved is 6 months

I don’t think an TWAO has been approved in six months. Hope Valley took 2 1/2 years from application to the order being made. 12 months is normally a best case and that assumes minimal objections.

 

[Killingworth]

I don’t think an TWAO has been approved in six months. Hope Valley took 2 1/2 years from application to the order being made. 12 months is normally a best case and that assumes minimal objections.

Exactly! The average 6 months is what the DfT quoted to all involved locally. Fobbed off we were. Average covers a lot of extremes and must include some very small projects.

 

[Mollman]

Next General Election scheduled for 2 May 2024.
Time for some underpromise and 'early' delivery.
Reminds me of hordings on so many road projects saying 'completed n months early'- easy to finish 'early' if you add months to the contract period in the first place.

My favourite of those is for David Morris MP which makes it sound like he built the link road himself

 

[domcoop7]

My favourite of those is for David Morris MP which makes it sound like he built the link road himself
View attachment 100824

That wasn't even a National infrastructure project (which I suppose an MP could, if stretching it, try to claim some credit for as they influence national government). It was built by Lancashire County Council (which took them the best part of 70 years to bring to fruition!).

Anyway this is way, way of topic!!

 

[PhilH]

There's a piece in the next Rail Mag outlining what NR plans to do to upgrade the line.

 

[Meole]

chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-ashington-railway-station-plans-21513481

New Ashington railway station plans approved for Northumberland Line​

Development chiefs at Northumberland County Council have approved plans for a new railway station at Ashington

 

[Wolfie]

I'm not sure that would necessarily work that well. London is dead for the Conservatives for the foreseeable future, and ongoing Mayor versus Conservatives games are likely to be only serving to lose them the few remaining suburban seats they still have. The wider Home Counties are largely taken for granted by the Conservatives, but only a "New Labour" type setup with a Blair-style figure is likely to represent a threat here, and we don't have that at the moment, nor are likely to do -- and even that would only be a threat in marginal places like Basildon or Stevenage. The Lib Dems seem as ineffective as ever so they're nothing to worry about either.

So they may as well try and keep some of the Northern seats. Personally I'd also be looking to go for some of the provincial Labour city suburban seats, but some of these seem out of reach perhaps due to high student populations.

We appear to have a consensus in terms of voter behaviour for the time being:
Scotland - SNP (except for borders region)
London - Labour
Inner Cities - Labour
South Wales - Labour
North East - Marginal
Everywhere else - Conservative

Very off topic but l suggest that you look at the Chesham & Amersham by election.

 

[Swanley 59]

Evening Chronicle - Everything you need to know about the Northumberland Line

An update on progress in the local press.

 

[Aictos]

One interesting question I have is and it's a what if question, IF patronage of the line is higher then forecasted then has the powers to be passively left the infrastructure in a state that the line can be doubled in the years to come?

 

[John R]

One interesting question I have is and it's a what if question, IF patronage of the line is higher then forecasted then has the powers to be passively left the infrastructure in a state that the line can be doubled in the years to come?

With a half hourly service planned, surely the most effective way on increasing capacity would be train lengthening?

 

[Bald Rick]

One interesting question I have is and it's a what if question, IF patronage of the line is higher then forecasted then has the powers to be passively left the infrastructure in a state that the line can be doubled in the years to come?

The constraint on capacity is the ECML, not the Northumberland line. It’s going to be tricky enough to get 2tph extra onto the ECML as it is.

 

[Killingworth]

The constraint on capacity is the ECML, not the Northumberland line. It’s going to be tricky enough to get 2tph extra onto the ECML as it is.

Shame it isn't being run as a Metro compatible electrified route so a doubled service could run one through to Heworth. In the 60s, when the line from Heaton to Benton was closed for engineering work, diverted ECML expresses used the tracks though South Gosforth to Manors.

 

[swt_passenger]

One interesting question I have is and it's a what if question, IF patronage of the line is higher then forecasted then has the powers to be passively left the infrastructure in a state that the line can be doubled in the years to come?

The project already includes a certain amount of additional redoubling, and some parts are already double.

It isn’t really a typical disused minor single track route, it’s been sufficient for fairly regular freight use in recent years.

 

[edwin_m]

Shame it isn't being run as a Metro compatible electrified route so a doubled service could run one through to Heworth. In the 60s, when the line from Heaton to Benton was closed for engineering work, diverted ECML expresses used the tracks though South Gosforth to Manors.

I think it's seen as too far from Newcastle to be run as an all-stations Metro via Gosforth.

 

[Swanley 59]

The constraint on capacity is the ECML, not the Northumberland line. It’s going to be tricky enough to get 2tph extra onto the ECML as it is.

Are there any enhancements planned for the ECML between Benton Quarry Junction and Manors to cope with the additional traffic?

As well as the Northumberland Line trains, there are plans for an expanded Transpennine Service (Evening Chronicle article) due in the December timetable, and of course as the "Lumo" open access services to thread through this congested stretch of track.

 

[John R]

Shame it isn't being run as a Metro compatible electrified route so a doubled service could run one through to Heworth. In the 60s, when the line from Heaton to Benton was closed for engineering work, diverted ECML expresses used the tracks though South Gosforth to Manors.

It’s being re-opened with a half-hourly service, something many communities around the country will be very envious of. And still there’s disappointment that it’s not an even more extensive (and expensive) project!

 

[Bald Rick]

Are there any enhancements planned for the ECML between Benton Quarry Junction and Manors to cope with the additional traffic?

No.

 

[trebor79]

Are there any enhancements planned for the ECML between Benton Quarry Junction and Manors to cope with the additional traffic?

As well as the Northumberland Line trains, there are plans for an expanded Transpennine Service (Evening Chronicle article) due in the December timetable, and of course as the "Lumo" open access services to thread through this congested stretch of track.

The solution is obviously the reopening of the Border Counties route via Redesmouth and Riccarton Junction, and reinstating more of the Waverly route to Galashiels.