Longer trains plan as new rail line fills up

The Northumberland Line reopened in December after being shut for 60 years

A newly reopened railway line has attracted so many passengers that carriages may have to be added to trains to avoid people having to stand, a council said.

The Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December after being shut for 60 years but so far only half the six stations are in operation.

County council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth said making the carriages longer was being considered to cope with demand, especially on busy Newcastle United match days.

He described it as a "good problem" for the £298m project where passenger numbers are on course to hit five times the original estimate.

The council thinks 250,000 journeys will have been made by Easter, against initial expectations of 50,000.

Wearmouth said: "I have spent many years being told that this project would be a colossal failure and a waste of money, but with just three stations open it is showing just how successful it will be.

"Currently, on matchdays and a number of other times, we are getting close to capacity where people are having to stand for their journey.

"We might have to think about extending the trains."

The service is popular despite the fact that only half of its six stations are open

Wearmouth said the platforms were designed to accommodate longer trains and talks were being held with Network Rail and Northern about expanding the trains.

The project had faced several delays and spiralling costs, with the route initially scheduled to open last summer.

Stations at Ashington and Seaton Delaval opened in December, while Blyth Newsham opened last month.

The remaining stations at Blyth Bebside, Northumberland Park and Bedlington are due to open throughout this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.