Rail line 'unlikely' to open until end of 2024

"Challenging" conditions at Bedlington were among the reasons for the delay

A railway line is "unlikely" to be up and running until the end of 2024 after delays in building two new stations.

It was hoped the 18-mile (29km) Northumberland Line would open by the summer.

But Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson confirmed on Wednesday there had been a delay, adding he was "sure" trains would be running by December.

The delay has been blamed on "challenging conditions", particularly at Bedlington.

The other affected station is Blyth Bebside.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ashington and Blyth Local Area Council, Mr Sanderson said he hoped the project would progress sooner.

He said: “It is happening. By November or December, I’m sure trains will be running on that line – it may be sooner, but I’m not sure.

“Don’t blame the county council for the engineering. There have been very challenging conditions, particularly at Bedlington. We can’t overcome them, we have to be patient.

Councillor Glen Sanderson confirmed the opening of the line would be delayed

“They will be open six months after the trains start running. I don’t want it to be late, but it is not the county council or the Government’s fault.

“I think rather than saying it might be a few months late running, we say it is going to be a fantastic thing for our residents and our visitors.”

The Northumberland Line will see passenger rail brought back to the south east of the county for the first time since the 1960s, connecting Bedlington, Ashington and Blyth with Newcastle.

Rumours of delays had been circling since November, but the Conservative leader of the council had previously refused to be drawn on when exactly the railway line would open, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Sanderson also said the project had ended up costing “far more than we thought it would”.

He was speaking in response to Labour’s Sleekburn councillor, Alex Wallace, who described 2024 as a “year of false dawns” for his ward.