Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[Ferris boy]

Seaton Delaval station last month - but beware this is a 2.5mile walk from Seaton Delaval Hall !

 

[Train Maniac]

Seaton Delaval station last month - but beware this is a 2.5mile walk from Seaton Delaval Hall !

Quick question: Why does a basic single platform need 4 separate emergency exits?

 

[swt_passenger]

Quick question: Why does a basic single platform need 4 separate emergency exits?

Safety standards inflation gone berserk.

 

[John Griffiths]

The line was always there?

 

[takno]

Quick question: Why does a basic single platform need 4 separate emergency exits?

One under each if the completely redundant platform number signs, and one for the contractors to escape through with all their profits

 

[59CosG95]

Safety standards inflation gone berserk.

Not really, if all the normal exits are also emergency exits.

 

[androdas]

Seaton Delaval station last month - but beware this is a 2.5mile walk from Seaton Delaval Hall !

You can get the X7 bus from the station direct to the hall through New Hartley, takes about 10 mins.

 

[swt_passenger]

Not really, if all the normal exits are also emergency exits.

But why would a short single platform need four separate exits in the first place? For some reason they seem to have designed a separate platform behind the real platform with four sort of bridges across? And 3 sets of maintenance steps to access inaccessible areas. To me that’s over complicating things, it could be much simpler.

 

[androdas]

Its hard to see from that angle and its really the only accessible view of the station until the car park is complete, but the station does sit in a slight cutting and there is a bit of a level change between the car park and the platform. Also I believe the site has had problems with standing surface water in the past so this design could be to mitigate that by raising the level of the car park maybe? Snip below from the planning documents shows surface water flood risk on the site:

 

[mrd269697]

I wonder why they’ve labelled it “Northern” rather than the usual “National Rail”?

Ive noticed on Apple maps, they label a line by it’s toc if it is the only one running services on that line, and ‘national rail’ if the line is used by multiple companies

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Oct 2024 ==

Seaton Delaval station last month - but beware this is a 2.5mile walk from Seaton Delaval Hall !

Cheers

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Oct 2024 ==

Newsham on 9th September

View attachment 166955

On the same date Bebside looked a lot further from completion so didn't try going any closer.

View attachment 166956

Thanks

 

[swt_passenger]

Ive noticed on Apple maps, they label a line by it’s toc if it is the only one running services on that line, and ‘national rail’ if the line is used by multiple companies

I guess that’s at least a logical way of doing it, thanks for checking it out.

 

[nerdowell]

I know this maybe a bit irrelevant but noticed Apple maps has got the line in place (hasn't got the stations marked in yet).

I've noticed google haven't updated their maps eiher, the ghost of the bridge over Newsham is there, but the road still shows as open though the level crossing along with the bus stops being in their old positions

 

[kez19]

I've noticed google haven't updated their maps eiher, the ghost of the bridge over Newsham is there, but the road still shows as open though the level crossing along with the bus stops being in their old positions

The only thing I see on google maps it seems either the stations in position ie Seaton Devual, Northumberland Park (not sure on accuracy here either as I’m not local), I could be wrong but seems Apple Maps are probably ahead on this one

 

[danbarjon]

I wonder why they’ve labelled it “Northern” rather than the usual “National Rail”?

That'll be due to the fact Northern are the only operators for the Northumberland Line

 

[The exile]

But why would a short single platform need four separate exits in the first place? For some reason they seem to have designed a separate platform behind the real platform with four sort of bridges across? And 3 sets of maintenance steps to access inaccessible areas. To me that’s over complicating things, it could be much simpler.

The oddity appears to be (from the photo) that the steps down from the left go further down than platform level.

 

[59CosG95]

The oddity appears to be (from the photo) that the steps down from the left go further down than platform level.

The steps down from the left (AIUI) are for maintenance access to the non-tarmacked bits between each ramp.

 

[trainbeacon]

Is there an opening date yet? Also, they rather secretively opened Ashley Down a day earlier than publicly announced to "public officials" and presumably pre vetted press, so might be worth considering that could happen too.

 

[androdas]

There have been no dates published locally beyond 'December 2024'. This is a council led project and it is arguably the biggest Northumberland County Council have on the go so would imagine once an opening date has been finalised there will be a lot of publicity surrounding it.

 

[John R]

Is there an opening date yet? Also, they rather secretively opened Ashley Down a day earlier than publicly announced to "public officials" and presumably pre vetted press, so might be worth considering that could happen too.

It’s called a press launch. Not really unusual and hardly secretive.

 

[androdas]

User "West Blyth Shed" has posted on youtube a cab view of the line from Benton Junction and into the new bay at Ashington showing all the signalling and infrastructure improvements. I would say it was taken late summer this year as the Newsham level crossing is gone but the platforms at Bedlington hadn't been started yet. You can see progress at all the Stations and how much the line has changed if you are familiar with the old Blyth and Tyne.

 

[Volvictof]

User "West Blyth Shed" has posted on youtube a cab view of the line from Benton Junction and into the new bay at Ashington showing all the signalling and infrastructure improvements. I would say it was taken late summer this year as the Newsham level crossing is gone but the platforms at Bedlington hadn't been started yet. You can see progress at all the Stations and how much the line has changed if you are familiar with the old Blyth and Tyne.

Interesting. What’s the purpose of the large sidings in bedlington?

 

[Starmill]

It’s called a press launch. Not really unusual and hardly secretive.

I think the post you're quoting was referring to the trains other than the one featured on the press launch.

 

[John R]

I think the post you're quoting was referring to the trains other than the one featured on the press launch.

That's not how I read it, and being very local, I don't think there was any ambiguity in what day trains started. But hey, it's wildly off topic, so probably leave it there.

 

[swt_passenger]

Interesting. What’s the purpose of the large sidings in bedlington?

They were reinstated so that the Alumina trains from North Blyth to Fort William could be reversed (with a loco run round), off the mainline. The services head north via the Bedlington to Morpeth single line.

 

[Volvictof]

They were reinstated so that the Alumina trains from North Blyth to Fort William could be reversed (with a loco run round), off the mainline. The services head north via the Bedlington to Morpeth single line.

Man I’ve been looking for an easy route to Ben Nevis… shame they don’t take passengers, and I don’t have a death wish

 

[Starmill]

That's not how I read it, and being very local, I don't think there was any ambiguity in what day trains started. But hey, it's wildly off topic, so probably leave it there.

I don't think anyone would think a press launch is either secretive or unusual though would they? However, running trains either side of it unadvertised certainly is to both.

 

[androdas]

I have only just come accross this but it seems back in July there was an application to vary the planning permission for Newsham station to allow it to be opened before all the works are finished. Qoute from the covering letter to the application:

It was only allowed by the council on 18th September and doesnt give any dates for the opening but it does seem the station will be opening with just the east carpark and even that will not be fully completed.

Quote from the planning docs:

Reasons for the proposed phased opening
It is not possible to complete all construction activities until Spring 2025. However, central Government
requires that passenger rail services commence at the earliest opportunity. Whilst most of the eastern car
park will be complete in time for passenger services, the western car park will not be available, and neither
will some of the permanent drainage. Therefore, this application seeks to consent what will be provided upon
commencement of passenger services and how the site will be managed thereafter prior to concluding
construction activities.

Details of proposed opening
It is proposed that on the day of opening, the full extent of the eastern car park will be operational, with the
exception of a row of 8 bays on the eastern flank of the car park. Temporary footpaths, pedestrian crossing
arrangements and traffic management measures are proposed and indicated on the submitted plans

Link to the full application on planning portal

https://publicaccess.northumberland...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SGTR5NQSK9C00

 

[nerdowell]

Its a shame the freight having to backtrack to Bedlington when the West Sleekburn junction has a connection to the North, hope in the future Butterwell is sorted and a northern connection added onto the mainline so they can just shoot straight up (and allow the B&T to have a diversion access point with no dancing around Morpeth) Ignore that i forgot about the branch lol

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

User "West Blyth Shed" has posted on youtube a cab view of the line from Benton Junction and into the new bay at Ashington showing all the signalling and infrastructure improvements. I would say it was taken late summer this year as the Newsham level crossing is gone but the platforms at Bedlington hadn't been started yet. You can see progress at all the Stations and how much the line has changed if you are familiar with the old Blyth and Tyne.

Great video to see the transformation. Have to say the transit time across Benton Jcn looks time consuming and see its going to be a source of delays for Dn traffic.

 

[nerdowell]

Great video to see the transformation. Have to say the transit time across Benton Jcn looks time consuming and see its going to be a source of delays for Dn traffic.

I was watching Plessy Road, Bebside and Bedlington Level Crossings (all after one another), both massive choke points at peak times for road traffic, even with nothing on the line, have a feeling a few road users are going to be miffed for a couple months after it opens/they get used to it lol
Probably clutching at straws here, on RealTimeTrains, Empty Coaching Stock runs carry on until 23/11/2024 then nothing is planned until Sunday 15th December then running from the 16/12 as Unadvertised Ordinary Passenger runs, with the three unfinished stations as "Service stop unadvertised"...could this be the Press Launch (Sunday) and then regular passanger service from the Monday? Also changes from Short Term Planned to Working To Timetable