Then & Now - Blyth Bebside

As we get closer to Blyth Bebside station opening on Sunday 19th October 2025, we're taking a look back at the old station and sharing some images from the new look station.

The original station opened in August 1850 and for it's first 10 years was known as Cowpen Lane. Back in those early days, there were 3 trains in each direction on Mondays to Saturdays with 2 trains each way on a Sunday. When the station re-opens, trains will run every 30 minutes during the day on Mondays to Saturdays, with an hourly service in the later evenings and on Sundays.

Back in 1887, a journey from Blyth Bebside to Newcastle took around 50 minutes and when the new station opens, that journey will take just under 30 minutes.

The station was never the busiest on the line in comparison to others, with just over 57,000 journeys made in 1911, with that number dropping down to just over 9,000 journeys in 1951 and when the line closed in 1964, it was anticipated that the station only had 22 regular passengers.

The new station opens on Sunday 19th October 2025 and will have foot and cycle access from a new bridge over the A189 from behind Starbucks/Asda, plus there's also pedestrian access from Heather Lea, along with road access to the station car park from Front Street via Errington Street

Your new Blyth Bebside station is ready to open and it will feature:

• Full access to people with reduced mobility, with lifts & a footbridge linking the platforms with the car park

• 89 Parking Spaces (which include spaces Blue Badge Users spaces for EV Charging)

• Bike Storage

• CCTV Cameras

• Seating and Shelter

• Ticket Machines

• Audio Frequency Induction Loops

• Audio & Visual Information on Train departures and arrivals

• A new foot and cycle bridge to link towards Chase Farm Drive

Thanks to Ed Orwin & the North Eastern Railway Association for the historic images of the new Blyth Bebside station.