Incredible new UK train line with 8 stations open - cost £336.4m

A multi-million-pound project to reopen a rail line has been completed after the final station on the route welcomed its first passengers. Bedlington Station opened its platforms on Sunday, becoming the sixth new station on the Northumberland Line, which reopened to travellers in December 2024 for the first time in 60 years.

The line between Ashington and Newcastle began operating with only two new stations. Eight stations make up the Northumberland Line in total.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: "Bedlington station's opening is an exciting milestone marking the completion of the transformational Northumberland Line - backed with £300 million in Government funding.

"With more than one million passenger journeys completed since opening, the line is already an outstanding success - delivering faster, more reliable journeys, and unlocking economic growth in the North East by better connecting communities to jobs, education, and opportunities.

"I'm proud these services are being delivered by Northern, a publicly owned operator, focused on delivering for passengers as its number one priority."

Delays to the opening of Bedlington station were blamed on ageing stonework and a water pipe under the car park and last summer, an additional £37.9 million was provided to ensure the project was completed, BBC News reports.

This was expected to see the scheme's cost rise to £336.4 million. Around 18 miles of track have been renewed as part of the work.

Train operator Northern currently runs two daytime services an hour on the Northumberland Line from Monday to Saturday and one train per hour in the evenings and on Sundays. It is currently exploring options to increase capacity at peak times.

Those travelling from Bedlington can reach Newcastle in around 30 minutes on the Northumberland Line, with an off-peak single costing £2.60.

To mark its opening, it was announced that between 10am and 12pm on Monday, Northern staff would grant free travel to the first 25 passengers who arrive at the station with their Bedlington Terriers.

The dogs are named after the town where they were bred to hunt rats in coal mines and race.

Around 1.3 million journeys have been completed on the Northumberland Line since its reopening.