Fighting for more coastal trains

NORTH East leaders have met with campaigners calling for more trains to stop at some of the region's most rural railway stations.

- JAMES ROBINSON

Residents say the north Northumberland coast has “long been short” of effective trains, forcing visitors to drive to popular villages like Bamburgh and Seahouses.

On Thursday, deputy North East Mayor Martin Gannon, Labour MP David Smith and Conservative councillor Guy Renner-Thompson attended an event at Chathill Railway Station organised by the Chathill Rail Action Group. The organisation is keen to see more trains stop at the village and is appealing for investment into further services.

Speaking at the event, Coun Renner-Thompson, who represents the area as part of the Bamburgh ward on Northumberland County Council, said: “Half a million people visit Seahouses every single year.

“Our villages can’t cope with the amount of traffic. Getting more trains will improve the lives of people living here.

“For our young people, they have to leave our villages because there isn’t the work opportunities. If you can get on a train into Newcastle and get a job there, you wouldn't have to leave your village.

“It’s a really important thing. We need massive amounts of rail investment and we're fighting for more trains at Chathill.”

Officials were met by the Village Voices Choir from Seahouses and North Sunderland along with pupils from Seahouses Primary School, local residents and parish councillors.