Northumberland Line
The Northumberland Line aimed to stimulate and support economic growth, regeneration and community development in Northumberland and the surrounding regions by providing new and improved transport links for local people and businesses.
We were appointed as the Primary Contractor in 2021 on Northumberland County Council’s new stations framework contract to build six new stations over 18 miles of track on what was formerly known as the Blyth & Tyne Railway Line. The stations on the Blyth and Tyne Railway Line had been closed to passengers in 1963 during a controversial period of change, which saw over 2,000 stations across the country marked for closure, known as the ‘Beeching Cuts’.
With our supply chain partners, we began construction in early 2022. The project provided six new stations at Ashington, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park, with journeys between Newcastle and Ashington taking approximately 35 minutes with no need to change trains. The station at Northumberland Park was built adjacent to the existing Tyne and Wear Metro station, creating further opportunities for interchange and travel to other destinations, including on the Metro.
The scheme, led by Northumberland County Council, was delivered in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Trains, with the aim of reintroducing regular passenger services between Ashington and Newcastle, boosting education, employment and housing prospects for the region.
After more than six decades, passenger services returned to the Northumberland Line on Sunday 15 December 2024. The opening of two of the six stations, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, marked a significant milestone in the region’s transport history.
Take a closer look at the stations:
How we are delivering social value
Enhancing Communities is the vehicle through which we deliver social value, and it is essential to how we operate. Social value refers to the economic, environmental, and social benefits that people experience in the communities in which they live and work. We want to create additional, wider benefits and broader social outcomes to ensure we leave a lasting positive legacy in our communities.
Our current key focus areas include:
- Business investment and growth
- Career opportunities
- Encouraging vulnerable users
- Safe railway interactions
- Raising aspirations
- Local ownership of the railway
- Environmental improvements
Education and development
Improving the environment
Supporting local businesses
Partnering with community organisations
Partnering with local schools and colleges, we delivered over 2,006 hours with local schools, educational institutes raising aspirations and creating meaningful work placement opportunities. This includes hosting student site visits, competitions, career talks and STEM workshops.
We have also provided CV masterclasses, skills training, and work experience opportunities including term time / summer. Live history project during construction (film, interviews, photos).
Throughout the scheme, there was extensive environmental surveys to protect biodiversity, and mitigation measures to avoid disturbance (noise, dust, traffic etc.)
There was substantial landscaping work to improve the local area where sustainable materials and construction methods were used. We tracked environmental improvement targets (biodiversity, carbon, waste). For example, we have saved over 260 tCO2, over quarter of a million car miles and over 150,000 miles with low emission vehicles.
Local partners such as the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership, local business parks, including Quorum, Ashwood, Blyth Riverside and Cobalt, and other stakeholders promoted business opportunities from the project.
Additionally, (excluding aerial photography) all images were commissioned from local photographer Gareth Williams.
We provided regular progress updates to the local community, and hosted engagement events to promote pride in the railway. We continue to support local initiatives through volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring and supporting local sports groups, including Ashington Cricket Club women’s team and Bedlington Cricket Club under 11’s.
Take a closer look at our social value work
