Our Rail team working on the Northumberland Line project have recently reached several key milestones, including the opening of a new road bridge, a cycle and pedestrian bridge, and an underpass.
The opening of the new Newsham Roadbridge on the A1061 in Blyth on Thursday, 1 August 2024, means the new state-of-the art signalling system can be completed and all the new track installed along the route can be used – with passenger trains starting test-runs for the first time in over 60 years.
The team stood on the newly opened Newsham bridge.
We also saw the installation of the cycle bridge over the A189 connecting northern Blyth to Blyth Bebside station, another huge and key piece of infrastructure.
The installation of the A189 cycle & pedestrian bridge.
Additionally, the new underpass at Palmersville Dairy is now open to the public. This underpass allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross underneath the new rail line, eliminating the need to cross the railway.
The team walking through Palmersville underpass.
Olivia Perkins, managing director – Rail said,
“It has been humbling to see what has been achieved on the Northumberland Line Project; the scheme has faced its fair share of challenges however our team, along with our supply chain and delivery partners have worked hard together to get to where we are now. We have a number of local staff, including apprentices and also supply chain on the project – they can truly be proud of working on bringing a transport link back in to use which will undoubtedly benefit the local economy and community.”
About the Northumberland Line scheme
The scheme is led by Northumberland County Council in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Trains with an aim to reintroduce regular passenger trains between Ashington and Newcastle - boosting education, employment and housing prospects for the region.
As Principal Contractor, we are designing and building six stations and multiple bridges along the route (see above) with support from a local supply chain to stimulate the local economy.
Newsham station with the newly installed footbridge.
Once complete the project will provide six new stations at Ashington, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park, with journeys between Newcastle and Ashington taking about 35 minutes with no need to change trains.
This project will bring passenger trains back to communities in south east Northumberland for the first time in 60 years.