NORTHUMBERLAND LINE

[dave1]

is there any news on the proposed extra units in the summer

 

[Dr Hoo]

is there any news on the proposed extra units in the summer

Can you provide a link to the (official) ‘proposal’, please?

 

[dave1]

Speaking at Bedlington Station’s official opening, Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson confirmed that he was expecting to have new carriages for the line by the summer.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Thanks.

 

[The exile]

Speaking at Bedlington Station’s official opening, Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson confirmed that he was expecting to have new carriages for the line by the summer.

The usual predictable follow-up comment: But of which year?

 

[swt_passenger]

The text of the last post in the now closed infrastructure thread:

“In an interview for the Northumberland Gazette on the occasion Bedlington opening the Northumberland Council leaders Coun. Sanderson has awknowledged demand and said the Mayor and council have provided funding for longer trains (without saying where they are coming from) and claims they will be in place by the summer.”

The post quotes the Northumberland Gazette, which basically says just the same:

Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

ORR approval now granted for Bedlington station ahead of formal opening on Sunday 29th: https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/orr-authorises-bedlington-station-northumberland-line 26 March 2026 The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the rail regulator, has authorised Bedlington Station in...

www.railforums.co.uk

I expect they’d have to cut somewhere else, as there’s no suitable spare DMU stock, anywhere.

 

[rattyben]

I think it’ll be nothing more than swapping around 156/158s so probably newer carriages not more carriages.

I recall someone saying at the time the line opened it was anticipated to be 158 only operation line but even that sounded optimistic.

I’ve seen couple of 158s in better condition operating on Northumberland and Durham coastline lately.

 

[diligentdave]

The proposed "new" trains mentioned are actually really clapped out ex-Scotrail 156's that haven't been through works and to me are in a shocking state. I'd be embarrassed to unveil these. They're only supposed to be leased for 12 months. Half that time would be repairing them and I think this number has now reduced down to 1 unit, which I can't see turning up in the condition its in.

 

[The exile]

The proposed "new" trains mentioned are actually really clapped out ex-Scotrail 156's that haven't been through works and to me are in a shocking state. I'd be embarrassed to unveil these. They're only supposed to be leased for 12 months. Half that time would be repairing them and I think this number has now reduced down to 1 unit, which I can't see turning up in the condition its in.

The trick, of course, would be to use those elsewhere and do a “reverse cascade” of 158s to the NE. Don’t make a big song and dance initially - just find she other event (doesn’t have to be rail-related) to trumpet the extra carriages…

 

[rattyben]

The proposed "new" trains mentioned are actually really clapped out ex-Scotrail 156's that haven't been through works and to me are in a shocking state. I'd be embarrassed to unveil these. They're only supposed to be leased for 12 months. Half that time would be repairing them and I think this number has now reduced down to 1 unit, which I can't see turning up in the condition its in.

Wow.

 

[Anvil1984]

The proposed "new" trains mentioned are actually really clapped out ex-Scotrail 156's that haven't been through works and to me are in a shocking state. I'd be embarrassed to unveil these. They're only supposed to be leased for 12 months. Half that time would be repairing them and I think this number has now reduced down to 1 unit, which I can't see turning up in the condition its in.

Thanks Dave, sadly not unexpected. Just a quick couple of Heaton / Northumberland line related questions.

1) Was there a reduction of 158s based at Heaton from the May timetable change? The amount of days 2 out of the 3 Northumberland line diagrams have been 156s has led to some suspicion (although we also seem to be getting more Neville Hill units up here in recent weeks so who knows).

2) There’s been a Neville Hill unit (I believe 158786) on Heaton for what seems at least a month and a half what’s going on?

3) If Scotrails finest cast offs were only supposed to be on lease for 12 months, does that mean there was a longer term plan for units from elsewhere coming to the North East? (even if it’s just one or two).

 

[diligentdave]

Thanks Dave, sadly not unexpected. Just a quick couple of Heaton / Northumberland line related questions.

1) Was there a reduction of 158s based at Heaton from the May timetable change? The amount of days 2 out of the 3 Northumberland line diagrams have been 156s has led to some suspicion (although we also seem to be getting more Neville Hill units up here in recent weeks so who knows). No reductions. Just increasing numbers of units requiring exams/repairs with no place to fit them all in.

2) There’s been a Neville Hill unit (I believe 158786) on Heaton for what seems at least a month and a half what’s going on? It's got some corrosion on the dragbox (this houses the coupler gear underneath). I'm afraid it's a welding job to repair but currently there are no repair procedures for this type of thing ever done before so it's taking time to get a supplier to repair.

3) If Scotrails finest cast offs were only supposed to be on lease for 12 months, does that mean there was a longer term plan for units from elsewhere coming to the North East? (even if it’s just one or two). AFAIK there was mention of some ex-TfW 158's coming this way but that's all gone very quiet and not for a while.

 

[a_c_skinner]

In the NE local politics is going mad over the Northumberland line. The council (I got their paper recently through the door) says it is actively pursuing an extension to Newbiggin, which is several miles of new railway even if it is on the very old alignment. It is about votes.

 

[rattyben]

In the NE local politics is going mad over the Northumberland line. The council (I got their paper recently through the door) says it is actively pursuing an extension to Newbiggin, which is several miles of new railway even if it is on the very old alignment. It is about votes.

Add it to the list of things that’ll never happen… but a politician can always pull out of the DfT recycling bin if they need a vague promise.

Tees Valley line electrification
Durham coast electrification
Direct rail connections between H’pool and Darlo.
Teesside Airport station
Leamside line
Metro extension to Washington
Fast services between Boro and Newcastle
….. to name a few.

 

[swt_passenger]

In the NE local politics is going mad over the Northumberland line. The council (I got their paper recently through the door) says it is actively pursuing an extension to Newbiggin, which is several miles of new railway even if it is on the very old alignment. It is about votes.

Its almost exactly 1 mile from where the logical junction with the freight line would be, near the A189 roundabout, maybe 1.1 miles if they went all the way to the beach. The line between Ashington and that future junction, about 1.5 miles, is currently operated as unsignalled sidings, so would need proper signalling installed, and potentially crossing improvements or closures.

Also needs the platform siding line at Ashington converted to a loop. I still think this is a more significant work package than the politicians are implying, but I don’t think it’s really ‘several miles’ of new railway.

 

[The exile]

Add it to the list of things that’ll never happen… but a politician can always pull out of the DfT recycling bin if they need a vague promise.

Tees Valley line electrification
Durham coast electrification
Direct rail connections between H’pool and Darlo.
Teesside Airport station
Leamside line
Metro extension to Washington
Fast services between Boro and Newcastle
….. to name a few.

Maybe, but politicians thinking rail reopenings are vote-winners is always a good start / sign.

 

[rattyben]

Maybe, but politicians thinking rail reopenings are vote-winners is always a good start / sign.

Agreed but they are only vote winners right up to the point a journalist shouts big scary numbers at people with zero context or any acknowledgement of the societal benefits.

 

[a_c_skinner]

but I don’t think it’s really ‘several miles’ of new railway.

Apologies, I should have looked for a map. It is about a mile but a couple of miles of the freight line will need more or less complete re-making. You can see the condition at Woodhorn. Not that it matters, Newbiggin isn't a vast sprawling metropolis and although it is a pleasant place which I like a lot the number of visitors won't swing it.