Railway station opening date announced

Northumberland Council has announced the opening date of a new station

A date has been announced for the latest station to be completed on a new railway line.

Blyth Bebside, on the Northumberland Line, will be opening on 19 October and only two stations remain before the line is fully operational.

The final stations at Bedlington and Northumberland Park are due to open in early 2026.

Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said the line was generating "fantastic" feedback from users.

It was initially hoped the 18-mile (29km) line would open with six new stations, but only two, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, were completed when the line reopened to passengers, six decades on from the last such services in 1964.

Sanderson also announced new services for the line, including a late night one and a Sunday service that took passengers to the Metrocentre.

He said the line had already enabled more than half a million journeys since trains began running last December, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The amazing passenger numbers already show just how much need there has been for this line – whether it's commuters, students heading to college or university or people travelling for leisure – it's been truly transformational," he said.

The Bebside station will allow passengers to travel to Newcastle in just 29 minutes.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: "It's great to see that passengers will be able to use Bebside Station in Blyth soon – this is another major milestone for the Northumberland Line and great news for local people.

"The line continues to be very popular with passengers, and I know our rail links are hugely important for our communities, boosting access to opportunities for work, education and leisure.

"I look forward to seeing the station up and running next month."