Minister backs calls for more carriages on line

THE rail minister has thrown his weight behind calls to bring in permanent additional carriages on the Northumberland Line.

- By JAMES ROBINSON

More than 900,000 journeys have been made on the reopened rail line since it opened in December 2024, prompting calls for greater capacity.

However, operator Northern has said this is "challenging" due to the number of carriages available in the company's fleet.

Northern has temporarily allocated rolling stock from other routes as a short-term fix, but Rail Minister Lord Hendy has now instructed the operator to look for a permanent solution.

Northumberland County Council leader Coun Glen Sanderson said the Conservative-led administration at County Hall would keep the pressure on the Government and the rail companies to bring in more carriages.