Station opening completes Northumberland Line...for now

Shortly before 8.30am on Sunday, March 29th 2026, the first passenger train in more than 60 years pulled into Bedlington.

It marked the completion of the Northumberland Line programme – which has revolutionised travel in the area and surpassed all expectations in terms of passenger numbers since it opened in December 2024.

And such has been the success of the line, proposals are being formulated to extend the scheme further north over the coming years – into Woodhorn and Newbiggin.

To mark the opening of Bedlington Station, the local community joined scores of schoolchildren and local dignitaries for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, accompanied by a local brass band.

Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson, who led the celebrations, said: “This is a very special day for the county.

“Firstly I’d like to thank the people of Bedlington, they’ve been patiently waiting for their station to open and now it’s their time. For a town that has played such a pivotal role in the history of the railway it is fitting that we celebrate the scheme’s completion here.

“The Northumberland Line sums up the ambition of the County Council to lead on such game-changing projects, but this scheme would not have been possible without the support of all our partners who made that ambition a reality and my heartfelt thanks goes to them.

“And that ambition we have continues to burn bright – we want to build on this success and take the line further – and we will do all we can to make that happen.”

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Bedlington Station’s opening is an exciting milestone marking the completion of the transformational Northumberland Line – backed with £300 million in Government funding.

“With more than one million passenger journeys completed since opening, the Line is already an outstanding success – delivering faster, more reliable journeys, and unlocking economic growth in the North East by better connecting communities to jobs, education, and opportunities.

“I’m proud these services are being delivered by Northern, a publicly owned operator, focused on delivering for passengers as its number one priority.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “People in Bedlington have been waiting a long time for this so I’m delighted the Station is now officially open – linking people to more opportunities for jobs, education and leisure - changing lives with each and every journey.

“I know how important rail is for our communities, so we have invested millions to get the project completed – including £10.9m for a new station at Northumberland Park and money to bring in the Mayor’s Fares – making travel easier and much cheaper for everyone.

“But we’re not stopping here, we have big plans for rail and we’re cracking on with bringing a new rail line for County Durham along the former Leamside Line and Metro to Washington as well as looking at an extension to Newbiggin – these are exciting times for transport in the North East.”

Ashington and Blyth MP Ian Lavery said: “It’s fantastic to see the final station in this phase of the line now open.

“People in Bedlington Station have watched trains pass by every day for the past year, and now, rather than being inconvenienced by them, they’ll finally be able to access the rail network themselves.

“I hope local residents will grasp the opportunities this brings, from easier access to jobs and entertainment elsewhere to welcoming more visitors into the area.

I’m looking forward to phase two and to seeing trains running to Woodhorn and Newbiggin as soon as possible.”

Olivia Perkins, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure - Managing Director- Rail, said: “With the sixth and final station now complete, the Northumberland Line stands as a testament to long‑term investment, regional collaboration, and meaningful community impact.

“This project has reconnected towns and people, and strengthened the foundations for future economic growth, sustainable travel, and improved access to more opportunities. Our team has enjoyed working alongside a number of delivery organisations to bring the Northumberland Line back into use; delivering the scheme has been a matter of personal pride for many of them who live locally. I am extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

Alex Hornby, Northern’s Commercial and Customer Director, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming passengers on board at Bedlington station, allowing them to make the most of quick and affordable rail services.

“We’re so proud to be bringing services back to a town that played a pivotal role in the history of the railway.

“Bedlington Iron and Engine Works produced parts for George Stephenson’s first locomotive just over 200 years ago and helped to drive the expansion of railway networks across Europe, providing rails and locomotives. Bedlington has again secured its place in railway history.

“The completion of this station also means the completion of the Northumberland Line between Ashington and Newcastle.

“It is having such a positive impact on communities in the region – opening up new opportunities to so many people and attracting around 1.3 million customers since it opened.”

David Ball, Network Rail senior sponsor, said: “Opening Bedlington may mark the completion of the Northumberland Line for now, but this is still only the beginning.

“The line is already showing what a difference reliable, high‑quality rail links can make for communities, and we’re excited to see this continue to grow in the years ahead. Our teams have been proud to play their part in delivering this transformative project.”

Richard Whitehead, Chief Executive, Europe and India, AECOM, said: “The Northumberland Line has been exemplary from the very beginning, underpinned by its robust business case, outstanding collaboration across all partners, and the successful delivery of complex engineering solutions.

“It stands as a shining example of how the UK can deliver infrastructure that makes a lasting difference to communities and drives economic growth in the regions that need it most. AECOM is proud to have been involved since the project’s inception and to have played a part in bringing this transformative rail line to life.”

Ian Walters, Managing Director of SLC, said: “The opening of Bedlington marks an important milestone for a project that is already reconnecting communities and creating new opportunities across the region. For SLC, this has been a particularly special project, with colleagues from across our organisation contributing their expertise at every stage since 2017.

“The Northumberland Line shows what can be achieved when partners work together with a shared ambition. We are proud to have supported Northumberland County Council and the wider delivery team in helping deliver a transformational rail scheme that will bring lasting social and economic benefits to communities across the North East.”

Around 18 miles of track have been renewed as part of the programme. The signalling system has been upgraded and 24 level crossings have been modified to improve safety.

Now the Line is complete, services now call at Newcastle, Manors and at new stations in Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington - with a journey along the entire route taking around 35 minutes.

Train operator Northern runs two daytime services an hour on the Line from Monday to Saturday and one train per hour in the evenings and on Sundays.