The first trains departed the latest station to open on the Northumberland Line this morning
The train station creates a brand-new interchange in North Tyneside(Image: ChronicleLive)
The next station in the landmark Northumberland Line has opened in Northumberland Park. Facing the existing Metro station, the platform has been under construction for years, but now marks a major interchange between Northern Rail services and Nexus Metro services.
Crowds of eager passengers gathered on the platform to see the first two services pass through the station. The first came from Newcastle, bound for Ashington, and the second was heading to Newcastle and then the Metrocentre.
Leader of Northumberland County Council, Councillor Glen Sanderson, was also in attendance, where he said it “feels great to see another station completed”. He called the completed station the “perfect example of integrated travel” in the area, and how he’s happy to see the station service the community for “decades and decades to come”.
The new sign outside Northumberland Park Train station in North Tyneside.(Image: ChronicleLive)
He has high hopes for the interchange, reflecting the ambition of the council to see further stations added in future. Cllr Sanderson hoped to “work with the mayor to extend the line“, potentially linking it up to Newbiggan, and added that while this was a monumental day, he “wants to do more”. Despite construction setbacks, he stood on the platform amid the crowds this morning and said it was “all worth it”.
The crowds were full of eager locals, enthusiasts, and those keen to see another link forged in the line through such a densely populated area. One in particular had been keeping up with the progress of the line keenly.
Michael Mendum had followed the progress of the Northumberland Line throughout the construction; in fact, he had “watched it being built from day one”. As someone who had followed the progress of the station, he hopes that there could be further development of the line, with “many” more to come.
He remained cautiously optimistic, saying he would “wait and see” about the new interchange’s popularity. However, he can’t deny that it may take some people away from the Metro to get to Newcastle. As the journey from Northumberland Park to Newcastle Central takes just 10 minutes on the Northumberland line, he anticipated an increased demand in the service.
Busy people and onlookers walk down Northumberland Park Train station in North Tyneside.(Image: ChronicleLive)
A mother and son were waiting on the platform for the train to take them back to Newcastle, having ridden out from the city centre on the “very clean and new” train to see the new station in person. Young Henry Wright had been following the progress of the line, emphasising how “important” railways are to communities.
He had walked along closed railway lines, mourning the lost connection to the communities they used to service, and how he was “hopeful” that the busy crowds on day one would stay to continue to support the line.
One of the Northern Rail workers on the station was looking out to the Metro station across the tracks, having gone to the station to go to work for the 12 years he had worked at Nexus on the Metro system. He, like the Northumberland Line, was tied to the Metro at this station, and was glad to see it “all incorporated into one”.
He was hopeful that the line would offer locals “more choice” in how they get about, with the Northumberland line currently offering quicker and cheaper travel into Newcastle than the Metro. With the option for people to travel to the Metrocentre from the station, it offers a quicker method of public transport for people wishing to do a bit of Sunday shopping.
As services begin to regularly roll through the new interchange, it links up North Tyneside and Northumberland in a new way. With just one more station due to open in Bedlington on Sunday 29th March, even more passengers can soon look forward to travelling across the North East.
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