Railway journeys 'almost double' the expectation

MORE than one million journeys have been made on the Northumberland Line since passenger services returned to the south east of the county.

- By JAMES ROBINSON

It means the railway, which first opened in December 2024, has smashed expectations despite the fact that not all the stations are even operational yet.

Initial projections in the council's business case for the scheme hoped for around 600,000 passengers by the end of 2025, assuming all stations would be open by this time.

Officials from Northumberland County Council and rail operator Northern braved bitterly cold weather to mark the occasion at Blyth Bebside station.

Coun Sanderson said: "The business case hoped for around 600,000 passengers by the end of 2025 assuming all stations were fully operational.