A train service that has been gone for 60 years is set to return following a huge cash injection.
The new Northumberland Line from Newcastle to Ashington is set to open this summer for passengers.
The line was originally closed in the 60s as part of the Beeching Cuts, a major series of route closures and service changes to restructure the UK’s then-nationalised railways.
A freight had continued to operate along the line in the years since, meaning a working line is still in place – but until this summer, it has not been for passengers.
The county council has described the planned reopening as a “game-changer”.
Part of the Government’s Restoring Your Railways project, the investment will see six stations introduced on the line, as well as major upgrades to track, signalling and other infrastructure.
There will reportedly be two trains running every hour on the reopened line, which comes at a cost of £180million.
Its supporters argue it carries substantial social and economic benefits by making commuting to Newcastle far easier.
Dennis Fancett, chair of the South East Northumberland Rail User Group, which has been campaigning for the return of the train, said the seemingly large figure to bring it back is actually quite small compared with other infrastructure projects.
He told the Guardian every time a roundabout was updated on one of the county’s major roads it cost £50million.
He added: “They keep doing it again every four or five years. I see the price of the line as four roundabouts.
“But there is this total inequality between road and rail … with road they just get on with it.”
Mr Fancett said the process of campaigning for the return of the line has been “painful and torturous”.
The majority of funding for the line is understood to be coming from central government, with the remainder from the county council, the private sector and the North of Tyne combined authority, giving £10million.
The line will initially open with just three stations: Ashington, Newsham and Seaton Delaval, with other stations still not ready.
It’s not the only piece of infrastructure work that aims to roll back changes made in the Beeching Cuts, with a brand new train station costing £30m is set to restore passenger services in Aldrige, a town that was left cut off by the cuts.
Aldridge Railway Station’s future site is being secured and cleared to pave the way for the start of construction, with hopes it will be open by 2027.
