We'd like to say a huge thank you to the local residents that joined us at our drop in event at Ashington Cricket Club on Monday evening.
For those that didn't make it, here's some handy information on the station, timetable, fares and trains to be used on the line.
What facilities will there be at the stations?
All stations will have ticket vending machines, seating and shelters, audio frequency induction loops, car parking, bike parking, CCTV cameras and lighting.
How can I buy tickets?
Tickets can be bought on the platform using the ticket vending machines, or online here https://www.northernrailway.co.uk and via mobile phone app.
Ticket vending machines are card only. If you are unable to pay by debit/credit card at a station ticket vending machine you can obtain a Promise to Pay notice instead. This will allow you to board the train and pay for your ticket in cash from a revenue officer at the first opportunity or at the next available booking office.
It is important that you obtain a Promise to Pay notice before boarding the train, as you may be liable for a penalty fare if you travel without one.
How much will the tickets cost?
As well as having rail fares, the Northumberland Line will have integrated fares with the Tyne & Wear Metro.
Rail fares for adults will start at £1.60 for an off peak single between Ashington and Seaton Delaval or £2.60 from Ashington to Newcastle. The peak time fares from Ashington will be £1.90 to Seaton Delaval or £3 to Newcastle.
The Northumberland Line will also have a single-leg pricing structure, to make sure customers can always find the cheapest option for their journey. It means they can buy a single ticket for half the price of a return. In addition, discounts will also be available using railcards, although these will only apply to train fares only. Children’s fares will be 50% of the adult fares for those under the age of 16.
The fares will also be integrated with the Tyne and Wear Metro, meaning a zonal fare structure will be adopted, with a new Zone D to cover the station in Ashington. Customers will be able to purchase ‘Pop’ season ticket from one week up to an annual season ticket, or a ‘Pop’ Pay As You Go card that will allow customers to tap in and out of the stations and the best value ticket for their journey will be calculated. Each of the Northumberland Line stations have validators for Pop customers to tap in before they board and then tap out when they exit a station. Pop cards need to ordered in advance from Nexus from https://www.nexus.org.uk/ticket-information/pop and you won’t be able to buy an integrated ticket from the ticket machines or on the train.
Customers will also have the option to be able to book tickets directly from Northern using their online Journey Planner or from the ticket machines on stations. More information can be found here: https://www.northumberlandline.uk/ticketing.
What facilities will be on the trains?
The trains will be operated by Northern. In line with Northern’s other services, the trains running on the Northumberland Line will all be fully wheelchair accessible, and have toilets onboard, including disabled access toilets. Each train will have a conductor onboard, and next stop announcements which play in all carriages. The trains will also all have free Wi-Fi onboard and USB charging points.
How often will the trains run?
Two passenger trains will run each hour on Monday to Saturday daytimes, in both directions (so that is four trains in total per hour). Trains will run hourly on evenings and Sundays. The journey time from Ashington to Newcastle Central Station should take approximately 35 minutes.
Click on the link below for the timetable for trains from Ashington.
Can I get direct to Newcastle Central Station on the train, or do I have to get off at the Metro?
The trains will run all the way direct to Newcastle Central Station. From there you can then access the national rail network for onward travel, or interchange there for travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The trains will also stop at Northumberland Park, once it is opened, where there will be an interchange with the Tyne & Wear Metro line and all stations on that route, such as Newcastle Airport, Sunderland, South Shields, Gateshead, etc.
Before Northumberland Park opens, interchange with the Tyne & Wear Metro will be available at either Central Station or Manors.
How many car parking spaces are provided at the station?
We have constructed 270 parking spaces, including 17 accessible spaces.
Do I have to pay for parking?
Parking at Ashington Station will be free for at least the first year it is opened. After this, it will be subject to review.
Is there a charge point for electric vehicles?
A total of 18 electric vehicle charging bays have been installed in the car park, however these will not be available from 15 December as they are not fully set up for public use yet.
Will there be a bus service for the new station site and where will the nearest bus stop be located?
The rail station is served by the 434 bus service which provides an hourly link towards Widdrington, Bedlington, Cambois and North Blyth. Other bus services towards Bedlington, Newbiggin, Lynemouth, Alnwick and Amble are available from the Bus Station.
How can I get a job on the train line?
As vacancies become available, including apprenticeships and job fairs, these are advertised on the Northumberland Line website. Please keep checking back for updates.
When will the other stations on the train line open?
Work is ongoing to get the other planned stations at Newsham, Northumberland Park, Blyth Bebside and Bedlington opened as quickly as possible, although the exact dates are still to be finalised.
How will you stop railway users parking in nearby residential areas?
Car parking at the Ashington station will be free for at least the first year and will be reviewed in the subsequent years. We anticipate that users will prefer to use the station car park due to the close proximity of the car park to the station itself, and the amount of parking being provided is expected to meet demand.
The usage of the carpark will be continuously monitored and if issues are identified in neighbouring residential areas, measures will be taken.
How will the station be accessed by foot?
Access to the station for pedestrians will be via Kenilworth Road on a walkway from the road to the station adjacent to the Ashington War Memorial Garden.
Due to ongoing works on Wansbeck Square, the previous ramped path linking Station Road and Ashington Station is closed. It is anticipated that pedestrian access will be reinstated as part of the Wansbeck Square works.
Map showing routes for pedestrian access in red dotted line to Ashington station.
Are there bicycle facilities at the station?
There is a bicycle shelter at the station with spaces to securely lock bikes for those wishing to cycle to or from the station. In addition, the trains operated by Northern, have space to bring a bicycle on for those wishing to continue their onward journey from the train by bike.
How will anti-social behavior at the station be managed?
The station has CCTV installed which will be monitored off-site.
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