Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness were among those on a special service to mark the return of passenger trains to the Northumberland Line.

Regular passenger services will run on the line from Sunday, after a £298m project to bring it back into use.

Stations at Northumberland Park, Newsham, Bedlington and Blyth Bebside, which were not completed in time, are due to open over the course of next year.

Demand

McGuinness said she thought there would be "an awful lot of demand" for the route.

"It links people up with schools, opportunities and jobs," she said.

Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson, Conservative, believed the new line could bring economic growth and regeneration.

"The line is like a pair of scissors going straight into the area that needs a good rail line and it will bring people with it."

Anticipated Service

The Northumberland Line project addresses these issues. Once complete, it will:  

• Introduce six new stations: Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.
• Improve access from towns such as Ashington and Blyth to employment hubs like Newcastle, as well as opening up new opportunities for education and travel.
• Provide vital infrastructure to help deliver the region’s aspirations for population and economic growth. 
• Help to attract visitors and improve local tourism.
• Enhance public transport connectivity within and beyond the region. 
• Help to reduce congestion and improve air quality on key corridors by moving people away from car travel and onto public transport.
• Support the delivery of significant growth in sectors such as renewable energy and engineering.