Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

[Anvil1984]

Its in the October Newsletter, piece by Northern on their recruitment and training says a Driver Team Manager, Conductor Team Manager and 20 drivers have been recruited and drivers have started route familiarisation with GBRF on their biomass trains. It also says the new CTM will be based at a proposed Ashington conductor depot, page 5 of link below:

https://f4f6a39a-4a6f-4fd9-a996-2465c3799e3f.usrfiles.com/ugd/f4f6a3_676df98a321a4ddb9cfa820c64b8b298.pdf

Just a pedantic point but it states Driver Team Managers have started familiarisation. No mainline Northern drivers have been on the GBRF trains and probably won't for a while.

 

[androdas]

December newsletter is out, not a massive update but there is some progress for every station. By far the most progress is at Ashington and there is a nice drone shot of the new platform with its albeit disconnected trackwork in place.

Northumberland Line Newsletter - December 2022

Northumberland Line Newsletter - Dec 22

www.northumberlandline.uk

Northumberland Park
Surveys and ground investigation works have started. These will help confirm the make-up of the ground, which will in turn assist in finalising the construction methodology for the station, including whether any mining remediation is needed. Enabling works will continue in January 2023.
Seaton Delaval
Works completed so far include setting up a site compound and mining remediation, which will soon be completed. Following this, works will pause until Spring 2023.

Newsham
Works at Newsham station began with the demolition of Arden House, to the south of South Newsham Road (A1061), to create space for the new station and car park and the setup of the main works compound. The next stage of works will see piles being inserted into the ground.

Blyth Bebside
Preliminary work at Blyth Bebside station has
included clearing the land of vegetation ahead of the construction.

Bedlington
Works began at Bedlington in October with the with the demolition of the former Boots building, followed by exploratory works relating to historic mining works in the area, to confirm the need for grouting (filling).
To the south of the Bedlington station site, construction works to reinstate the disused railway sidings at Furnace Way have started. These have been temporarily paused and will re-start in 2023.

Ashington
Works are underway in Ashington with the demolition of the old station platform and construction of the new platform, which is now underway. The first phase of track renewal works has also recently completed. Construction of the new station will re-start in 2023.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Why was the Boots building demolished ?

 

[swt_passenger]

Why was the Boots building demolished ?

I think because the down side platform site is quite narrow and only accessed from the south end next to the level crossing, they needed the space for all the facilities associated with it such as ramp access to the platform height, ticket machines, bike racks and stuff. Also repositioned pedestrian crossings and car park access on the other side of the road. I’ve linked to one of the planning drawings:

https://publicaccess.northumberland.gov.uk/online-applications/files/BFBAE93316C5C207E0C4BD14572A9F72/pdf/21_01106_CCD-CAR_PARK_HIGHWAYS_GENERAL_ARRANGEMENT-2002783.pdf

 

[Snex]

December newsletter is out, not a massive update but there is some progress for every station. By far the most progress is at Ashington and there is a nice drone shot of the new platform with its albeit disconnected trackwork in place.

Northumberland Line Newsletter - December 2022

Northumberland Line Newsletter - Dec 22

www.northumberlandline.uk

Doesn't seem to be mentioned there but the Seaton Delaval works have stalled due to Great Crested Newts been found hibernating on the site and they can't do anything until they've come out of hibernation. The site compound is being removed in January 2023, assuming for security reasons.

I live near the station and get local updates on the work going on, happy to scan the whole letter if someone's interested.

 

[Chrius56000]

Hi!

Some pictures of the old Ashington Station closed by BR in 1964 featured in "RAIL" magazine showed at least one semaphore signal present – will the old signalling be retained, or will the line be converted to colour–light signalling supervised brom existing boxes or Tyne & Wear IECC before the passenger service begins?

Chris Williams

 

[zwk500]

Fairly sure it will be resignalled into Tyneside ROC. The line currently has 3 old-style boxes left, Newsham, Bedlington South and Bedlington North, at the loop and junction with the Morpeth line. I would expect that staffing 3 boxes is acceptable for the odd freight, but would be seen as not suitable for a full passenger service.
Signalmaps, an unofficial site, is showing a projected layout for the new Ashington workstation at Tyneside ROC: https://signalmaps.co.uk/#ashington:1442. This suggests that the line is also gaining an extra passing loop, further pointing towards full resignalling.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Do we know yet which routes Ashington conductors will sign?

 

[swt_passenger]

Fairly sure it will be resignalled into Tyneside ROC. The line currently has 3 old-style boxes left, Newsham, Bedlington South and Bedlington North, at the loop and junction with the Morpeth line. I would expect that staffing 3 boxes is acceptable for the odd freight, but would be seen as not suitable for a full passenger service.
Signalmaps, an unofficial site, is showing a projected layout for the new Ashington workstation at Tyneside ROC: https://signalmaps.co.uk/#ashington:1442. This suggests that the line is also gaining an extra passing loop, further pointing towards full resignalling.

The announcement about the Siemens contract award, post #345 in Feb last year, does state explicitly it goes into Tyneside ROC. (Although still referred to as an IECC at that time.)
“Siemens Mobility teams will also install or upgrade 8 level crossings (a mixture of CCTV and Obstacle Detection technologies) as well as new workstations at Tyneside IECC as part of the project.”
The new passing loop just south of new Seaton Delaval station, and the extended two track section south through Newsham station to Red House Farm Jn, both shown on the signalmaps website, are as per earlier TWA order documentation I’ve got downloaded.

 

[Trestrol]

Now I was told that Newsham was to go as there will be no level crossing for it to look after. One of the Bedlington boxes will go with the other taking over its duties. TSCs control will be extended as there is now double track to just after Holywell crossing. As this scheme is on a budget fully resignalling was out of the question. Probably this is the reason the new double track does not extend over the crossing further to junction at Backworth. Capacity has increased in Tyneside Signalling centre recently with provision for extra workstations not only for the Blyth and Tyne line but the North Mainline as well. There is also talk of some of the workstations currently at York ROC moving to Tyneside. But this is going to be dependent on budgets being available to do it. Which at the moment is more make do and mend rather than new works.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Fairly sure it will be resignalled into Tyneside ROC. The line currently has 3 old-style boxes left, Newsham, Bedlington South and Bedlington North, at the loop and junction with the Morpeth line. I would expect that staffing 3 boxes is acceptable for the odd freight, but would be seen as not suitable for a full passenger service.
Signalmaps, an unofficial site, is showing a projected layout for the new Ashington workstation at Tyneside ROC: https://signalmaps.co.uk/#ashington:1442. This suggests that the line is also gaining an extra passing loop, further pointing towards full resignalling.

I don't follow your logic. Since the boxes would have to be staffed for trains to run at all, why would it cost more to staff them for a full passenger train service ?

 

[Haywain]

I don't follow your logic. Since the boxes would have to be staffed for trains to run at all, why would it cost more to staff them for a full passenger train service ?

Freight may have been operated to very restricted hours so that only a single shift was worked, whereas two or three shifts would be required for a passenger service through the day.

 

[androdas]

The freight that uses the line runs from about 6am until 9pm usually around 4-5 biomass tpd each way, they are not currently running due to a combination of the reopening works and the power station undergoing maintenance plus the daily Blyth to Fort William tanks. As for the resigalling it is underway, there is a plan on signalmaps here: https://signalmaps.co.uk/#ashington:1545
The crossings except Bedlington are being converted to OD with all the boxes except Bedlington South and the 2 on the Cambois branch due to close.

 

[swt_passenger]

The freight that uses the line runs from about 6am until 9pm usually around 4-5 biomass tpd each way, they are not currently running due to a combination of the reopening works and the power station undergoing maintenance plus the daily Blyth to Fort William tanks. As for the resigalling it is underway, there is a plan on signalmaps here: https://signalmaps.co.uk/#ashington:1545
The crossings except Bedlington are being converted to OD with all the boxes except Bedlington South and the 2 on the Cambois branch due to close.

I since checked April 2022 Modern Railways, and it definitely reads as a “full resignalling” of the line including all power and telecoms being upgraded. But what seems odd is that they explain it as Tyneside IECC (now ROC) having a fringe with Bedlington South, which will contain the control panel for the north end of the route, and presumably the line towards Morpeth? Is it possible that will go into Tyneside as a future stage when Morpeth itself closes?

What then happens beyond Hirst Green (signed as Hirst Lane) MCG, presumably that will also be included in Bedlington South, is the line beyond that crossing into Lynemouth still fully signalled?

 

[Shwam3]

I since checked April 2022 Modern Railways, and it definitely reads as a “full resignalling” of the line including all power and telecoms being upgraded. But what seems odd is that they explain it as Tyneside IECC (now ROC) having a fringe with Bedlington South, which will contain the control panel for the north end of the route, and presumably the line towards Morpeth? Is it possible that will go into Tyneside as a future stage when Morpeth itself closes?

What then happens beyond Hirst Green (signed as Hirst Lane) MCG, presumably that will also be included in Bedlington South, is the line beyond that crossing into Lynemouth still fully signalled?

Bedlington South remains but is downgraded to a gate box controlling Bedlington South MCB only. The new Tyneside ROC Ashington workstation will fringe to Morpeth SB on the single line, to Winning SB around Marcheys House/West Sleekburn Jns, and towards Lynemouth PS which I think is worked as sidings with no signaller.

 

[zwk500]

What then happens beyond Hirst Green (signed as Hirst Lane) MCG, presumably that will also be included in Bedlington South, is the line beyond that crossing into Lynemouth still fully signalled?

NR boundary is only about 1 mile beyond Hirst Lane LC (as named in NESA), so presumably the square signals visible are 'Stop and Telephone' or similar wordings.

 

[swt_passenger]

Bedlington South remains but is downgraded to a gate box controlling Bedlington South MCB only. The new Tyneside ROC Ashington workstation will fringe to Morpeth SB on the single line, to Winning SB around Marcheys House/West Sleekburn Jns, and towards Lynemouth PS which I think is worked as sidings with no signaller.

NR boundary is only about 1 mile beyond Hirst Lane LC (as named in NESA), so presumably the square signals visible are 'Stop and Telephone' or similar wordings.

Ok thanks to you both, I must admit I thought it odd that the article reads that Bedlington South will be a fringe box and “contain a CBI”. Is that basically meaning the local interlocking will be physically in that building, but the control will be at the ROC?

 

[Freightlyner]

NR boundary is only about 1 mile beyond Hirst Lane LC (as named in NESA), so presumably the square signals visible are 'Stop and Telephone' or similar wordings.

Looking at the signalling diagram: At Ashington station, would you say the grey square dots to the right of the currently 'dead-end' platform will represent future extension of the siding into a through-loop for trains heading north? What will the yellow square signal below the dots represent?

 

[zwk500]

Looking at the signalling diagram: At Ashington station, would you say the grey square dots to the right of the currently 'dead-end' platform will represent future extension of the siding into a through-loop for trains heading north? What will the yellow square signal below the dots represent?

Welcome by the way!
The 4 grey Squares to the right of Ashington Platform are the Last Arrival berth. This will show the headcode of the last train to arrive into Ashington station, allowing the Signaller to set the next departure headcode up in the platform berth ready.
Yellow Squares are almost certainly Reflectorised Fixed Distant boards. See at the bottom here: https://www.railsigns.uk/sect2page7.html It warns the driver to expect to Stop at the next signal. They are 'fixed' at Yellow/Caution because the next signal is 'fixed' at red/danger. Because the red signal will never be cleared, it is a Stop Board rather than an actual signal. Because the red can never be cleared, the caution signal can also similarly be fixed as a board.

 

[Freightlyner]

Welcome by the way!
The 4 grey Squares to the right of Ashington Platform are the Last Arrival berth. This will show the headcode of the last train to arrive into Ashington station, allowing the Signaller to set the next departure headcode up in the platform berth ready.
Yellow Squares are almost certainly Reflectorised Fixed Distant boards. See at the bottom here: https://www.railsigns.uk/sect2page7.html It warns the driver to expect to Stop at the next signal. They are 'fixed' at Yellow/Caution because the next signal is 'fixed' at red/danger. Because the red signal will never be cleared, it is a Stop Board rather than an actual signal. Because the red can never be cleared, the caution signal can also similarly be fixed as a board.

Thank you!
Thanks for your help and info about the set-up around Ashington for the headcodes etc. and the fixed boards for the signalling. I understand now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2023 ==

Welcome by the way!
The 4 grey Squares to the right of Ashington Platform are the Last Arrival berth. This will show the headcode of the last train to arrive into Ashington station, allowing the Signaller to set the next departure headcode up in the platform berth ready.
Yellow Squares are almost certainly Reflectorised Fixed Distant boards. See at the bottom here: https://www.railsigns.uk/sect2page7.html It warns the driver to expect to Stop at the next signal. They are 'fixed' at Yellow/Caution because the next signal is 'fixed' at red/danger. Because the red signal will never be cleared, it is a Stop Board rather than an actual signal. Because the red can never be cleared, the caution signal can also similarly be fixed as a board.

A couple of photos of Ashington taken on Sunday 29/01/2023.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looking at the signalling diagram: At Ashington station, would you say the grey square dots to the right of the currently 'dead-end' platform will represent future extension of the siding into a through-loop for trains heading north? What will the yellow square signal below the dots represent?

Although that isn’t what the diagram means, as others have explained, I believe the layout is intended to be adaptable to form a loop if needed in future.

Edit:

Ah, found it, we discussed it a while back, apparently it’s mentioned in the planning application for Ashington station, linked here:

Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

Separate trackbed/ballast/drainage investigations may well also be required depending on the state of the track Casting my mind back a couple of years, was the trackbed deformation at Hatfield and Stainforth caused by colliery workings?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[WesternBiker]

Although that isn’t what the diagram means, as others have explained, I believe the layout is intended to be adaptable to form a loop if needed in future.

Edit:

Ah, found it, we discussed it a while back, apparently it’s mentioned in the planning application for Ashington station, linked here:

Northumberland Line reopening: progress updates

Separate trackbed/ballast/drainage investigations may well also be required depending on the state of the track Casting my mind back a couple of years, was the trackbed deformation at Hatfield and Stainforth caused by colliery workings?

www.railforums.co.uk

It would have been nice to extend it to Newbiggin-on-Sea (featured recently on the media as a classically deprived coastal community) but some very recent developments have encroached right up to the line of the old track bed (which is otherwise remarkably intact).

 

[RT4038]

1997. A big fat Labour majority with a lot of public goodwill. Thirteen years in power & the amount of railway line and station re-openings was pitiful. As a Labour party activist for much of that period & a member of the NUR, it was indeed embarrassing. Still maybe I should have known better. I can recall older work colleagues telling me about how Labour had betrayed them in the 1960's in the Beeching cuts era . . campaigning to save railway lines in my part of the world (East Yorkshire), then on being elected, continuing with the line closures.

When you get into power, you suddenly find that the options are limited and the decisions are very hard......

 

[Neptune]

Do we know yet which routes Ashington conductors will sign?

Not yet. Would imagine it will probably be Morpeth and Carlisle on top of the Northumberland line but those are decisions for the local management/company council to sort out.

 

[Pinza-C55]

When you get into power, you suddenly find that the options are limited and the decisions are very hard......

Or you never cared and just said things to get into power.
In my youth I read some stuff by Ken Livingstone and he said that when Labour was elected in 1974 he "trembled with excitement because everything would be put right". A few months in and he realised nothing had changed.

 

[androdas]

January Newsletter is has just been published.

Not a great deal to update this time around as there has been some bad weather but there is updated virtual tours that show some progress including what looks like the start of pilings for the new Bridge at Newsham. As this is probably the largest piece of infrastructure that is needed for this project its good to see a start being made. There is also a photo of the re-laid furnaceway sidings that are being brought back into use so there is no need for the Fort William tanks to block the main lines when they run round.

Update on each of the stations and link to the source below

Northumberland Park Ground investigations are continuing, in order to confirm the make-up of the ground, which will in turn assist in finalising the construction methodology for the station, including whether any mining remediation is needed. Following the completion of the ground investigation works, vegetation will be removed and a boundary fence will be installed. This work is currently expected to start in mid-February.

Seaton Delaval Works to fill in areas of former mining have now been completed at Seaton Delaval, and works at the future station site are now paused until the Spring. To the south of Seaton Delaval, between Backworth and Seghill, track renewal and level crossing works are underway. In order to minimise disruption to the freight services that use the railway line, the works must be undertaken at night time on weekdays and weekends. The works are expected to be completed by March 2023.

Newsham Works have begun to prepare the ground for the foundations of the new station. This work will involve a method called ‘piling’, which is used to create deep foundations to support the new station structures above.

Blyth Bebside Preliminary work at Blyth Bebside station has included clearing the land of vegetation ahead of the construction. Work to construct the station is due to start in 2023, and more details will be shared in due course.

Bedlington Exploratory works relating to the historic mining works are currently being undertaken to confirm the need for grouting (filling). Works to construct the station will commence in the next few months, and more details will be shared in due course. Outside of the station site, track renewal and level crossing works are ongoing.

Ashington Following the Christmas break, works on the new station platform have started again and will continue through 2023. January has also seen the upgrade of the access to Wansbeck Street car park from Kenilworth Road. The works required the temporary closure of a section of Kenilworth Road; however, this has now been completed. We would like to thank you all for your patience during this period of disruption.

Link to the newsletter https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/northumberland-line-newsletter-january-2023

 

[Swanley 59]

The latest newsletter has been published. The highlight of the proposed work is the substantial programme of track renewals gets underway in the Ashington area in March.

Link to the February newsletter https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/newsletter-february

The next phase of track works will take place
between Sunday 5 March and Saturday 1
April between the area next to Sovereign
Business Park and the site of the new
Ashington Station. This will cover
approximately 1000m of track.

A further phase of work is scheduled for
Thursday 20 July to Monday 24 July.
This phase will see the completion of works
to renew a further 200m stretch of track
from Hospital Level Crossing to the new
station.

The works also require both Hospital Level
Crossing and Green Lane Level Crossing to be
closed during the works between Friday 10
March and Saturday 1 April. This is because
the new tracks, sleepers, and ballast (the
stones beneath the track) need to be laid
through both areas at the same time

Will trains be calling at Manors? I thought that was the plan, but the website suggests that Northumberland Park will be the last call before Newcastle Central.

 

[Killingworth]

The latest newsletter has been published. The highlight of the proposed work is the substantial programme of track renewals gets underway in the Ashington area in March.

Link to the February newsletter https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/newsletter-february

Will trains be calling at Manors? I thought that was the plan, but the website suggests that Northumberland Park will be the last call before Newcastle Central.

Line congestion may make stops at Manors difficult but the newsletter doesn't say that. It's a Northumberland project so what happens in Newcastle upon Tyne isn't a great concern there. Very little work needs doing at Newcastle Central or Manors to accept the new services beyond pathing.

 

[Snow1964]

DfT has also issued press release about the reopening

With 6 new, fully accessible stations being built, the new line will stop at Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland Park and finally, Newcastle Central.

Passengers in the North-East will be able to reconnect with friends and family and enjoy greater access to business and education opportunities when the historic Northumberland Line reopens next summer.

The government is working with Northumberland County Council, Network Rail and Northern Rail to restore regular services to the vital line from next year, creating faster and easier journeys between Ashington and Newcastle.

The completed line will see journey times slashed in half, brand new stations built and historic railway towns, which have not seen footfall of eager passengers since the heydays of The Beatles, revived.

Historic Northumberland Line to reopen next summer

Fully accessible stations are being built to give 6 Northumberland communities regular train services.

www.gov.uk

 

[BrianW]

DfT has also issued press release about the reopening

Historic Northumberland Line to reopen next summer

Fully accessible stations are being built to give 6 Northumberland communities regular train services.

www.gov.uk

Why is this being said *now*?