Northumberland Line: trip planning & reports

[D6130]

I've just spotted that there is a parmo takeaway in Ashington (imaginatively named "Parmos"!).

That's lunch sorted when I visit!

I thought 'parmos' were a Teesside thing? Would it have been a legal requirement for an establishment as far North as Ashington to pay a copyright fee?

 

[xotGD]

I thought 'parmos' were a Teesside thing? Would it have been a legal requirement for an establishment as far North as Ashington to pay a copyright fee?

Teesside was "Ground Zero" for the parmo. I didn't know that they had spread north of the Tyne.

I did once have a posh parmo in an Italian restaurant in Skipton - sadly served on a plate, rather than in a pizza box.

 

[D6130]

Teesside was "Ground Zero" for the parmo. I didn't know that they had spread north of the Tyne.

I did once have a posh parmo in an Italian restaurant in Skipton - sadly served on a plate, rather than in a pizza box.

How disgusting! I would have reported them to the environmental health department and given them a one star TripAdvisor review!

 

[Snex]

I thought 'parmos' were a Teesside thing? Would it have been a legal requirement for an establishment as far North as Ashington to pay a copyright fee?

Usually it's been lost in what it's mean to be around here aswell. Quite a few seem to think it's just some cheese on a cheap bit of breaded chicken. Nasty things and I love a parmo.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I made my first trip on the Ashington branch yesterday and found it quite an interesting day out. I took the 1115 out, returning on the 1600, in both cases on a warm and comfortable 158. There were some nice views from the line once out of the Tyneside urban sprawl; okay it’s never going to win a prize for most scenic railway but once the fields dry out there look to be some interesting walks to be had. The scenic highlight has to be the dramatic bridge over the River Wansbeck but the passing views held my interest for most of the route.

Once in Ashington I walked along Woodhorn Road, crossing the roundabout to join the Aged Miners Home path, then onto the converted rail path to Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, a walk of around two and a half miles which took around 45 minutes. I enjoyed a couple of excellent Wylam Brewery beers in the Queens Head then took the 35 Morpeth bus back to Ashington which, as it goes round the housing estates, takes 20 minutes to travel two miles! There was just enough time for a Wetherspoons pizza at The Rohan Kanhai before getting the 1600 back to Newcastle. It was just as well I came back early as there were major delays on the ECML due to a level crossing fault and, later in the evening, a badger strike (!).

Overall impressions; even by North East standards Ashington is a grim place. The high street is little more than a parade of charity shops, fast food joints and cheap supermarkets and the main leisure activity among the locals appears to be waddling down the pavement, pasty in one hand, fag in the other, pausing periodically to cough your guts up. Newbiggin-By-The-Sea is much nicer; you wouldn’t spend your holidays there but on a bright winter’s day when there’s few people about, it’s a pleasant and bracing place to be.

I’ll probably return in the summer for a longer walk; the OS map suggests you could extend the walk to come back from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea via Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Woodhorn Museum but I wouldn’t want to spend too long in Ashington itself!


(Picture shows the 1600 departure in Ashington station with a GBRF Freight from Lynemouth to Tyne Dock in the background).

 

[Kite159]

*Adds that old railway line walk to my large list of ideas*

 

[ChrisC]

I made my first trip on the Ashington branch yesterday and found it quite an interesting day out. I took the 1115 out, returning on the 1600, in both cases on a warm and comfortable 158. There were some nice views from the line once out of the Tyneside urban sprawl; okay it’s never going to win a prize for most scenic railway but once the fields dry out there look to be some interesting walks to be had. The scenic highlight has to be the dramatic bridge over the River Wansbeck but the passing views held my interest for most of the route.

Once in Ashington I walked along Woodhorn Road, crossing the roundabout to join the Aged Miners Home path, then onto the converted rail path to Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, a walk of around two and a half miles which took around 45 minutes. I enjoyed a couple of excellent Wylam Brewery beers in the Queens Head then took the 35 Morpeth bus back to Ashington which, as it goes round the housing estates, takes 20 minutes to travel two miles! There was just enough time for a Wetherspoons pizza at The Rohan Kanhai before getting the 1600 back to Newcastle. It was just as well I came back early as there were major delays on the ECML due to a level crossing fault and, later in the evening, a badger strike (!).

Overall impressions; even by North East standards Ashington is a grim place. The hight street is little more than a parade of charity shops, fast food joints and cheap supermarkets and the main leisure activity among the locals appears to be waddling down the pavement, pasty in one hand, fag in the other, pausing periodically to cough your guts up. Newbiggin-By-The-Sea is much nicer; you wouldn’t spend your holidays there but on a bright winter’s day when there’s few people about, it’s a pleasant and bracing place to be.

I’ll probably return in the summer for a longer walk; the OS map suggests you could extend the walk to come back from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea via Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Woodhorn Museum but I wouldn’t want to spend too long in Ashington itself!

View attachment 172822
(Picture shows the 1600 departure in Ashington station with a GBRF Freight from Lynemouth to Tyne Dock in the background).

I quite liked Newbiggin-By-the-Sea when I visited it by bus a couple of years ago. I can remember viewing Ashington from the top deck of the bus and deciding that I definitely didn’t want to get off there. I don’t think I would want to have a holiday at Newbiggin but it is nice for a short visit especially the walk up past the church at the north end of the bay.

I am considering visiting again this summer to take a trip on the train to Ashington. If I allow myself a few hours in the area I had wondered about walking south from Newbiggin-By-the-Sea along the coast path. Then walking back towards Ashington up the side of the Wansbeck Estuary, under the railway bridge and then into Ashington along the A197 from just north of Stakeford Bridge. There’s always the possibility of getting a bus into Ashington at the end of the walk instead of road walking.

 

[Willie Bee]

Overall impressions; even by North East standards Ashington is a grim place. The high street is little more than a parade of charity shops, fast food joints and cheap supermarkets and the main leisure activity among the locals appears to be waddling down the pavement, pasty in one hand, fag in the other, pausing periodically to cough your guts up.

You really are selling it .. I think I must pay a visit

 

[duffield]

I made my first trip on the Ashington branch yesterday and found it quite an interesting day out. I took the 1115 out, returning on the 1600, in both cases on a warm and comfortable 158. There were some nice views from the line once out of the Tyneside urban sprawl; okay it’s never going to win a prize for most scenic railway but once the fields dry out there look to be some interesting walks to be had. The scenic highlight has to be the dramatic bridge over the River Wansbeck but the passing views held my interest for most of the route.

Once in Ashington I walked along Woodhorn Road, crossing the roundabout to join the Aged Miners Home path, then onto the converted rail path to Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, a walk of around two and a half miles which took around 45 minutes. I enjoyed a couple of excellent Wylam Brewery beers in the Queens Head then took the 35 Morpeth bus back to Ashington which, as it goes round the housing estates, takes 20 minutes to travel two miles! There was just enough time for a Wetherspoons pizza at The Rohan Kanhai before getting the 1600 back to Newcastle. It was just as well I came back early as there were major delays on the ECML due to a level crossing fault and, later in the evening, a badger strike (!).

Overall impressions; even by North East standards Ashington is a grim place. The high street is little more than a parade of charity shops, fast food joints and cheap supermarkets and the main leisure activity among the locals appears to be waddling down the pavement, pasty in one hand, fag in the other, pausing periodically to cough your guts up. Newbiggin-By-The-Sea is much nicer; you wouldn’t spend your holidays there but on a bright winter’s day when there’s few people about, it’s a pleasant and bracing place to be.

I’ll probably return in the summer for a longer walk; the OS map suggests you could extend the walk to come back from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea via Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Woodhorn Museum but I wouldn’t want to spend too long in Ashington itself!

View attachment 172822
(Picture shows the 1600 departure in Ashington station with a GBRF Freight from Lynemouth to Tyne Dock in the background).

What was the path like in terms of safety (dubious characters, bushes for hiding in, empty cans, signs of criminality etc.), particularly the first, Aged Miners home part? Given your description of Ashington itself this immediately sprang to mind!

Edit: Thanks for the excellent report BTW.

 

[Sunil_P]

Thanks!

If you’re not already aware, the interchange route uses the pavement on the existing road bridge, ie it’s not direct within a combined station.

Yes, there's obviously a fair bit of work going on to build the National Rail platform but the Metro station is unchanged.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

What was the path like in terms of safety (dubious characters, bushes for hiding in, empty cans, signs of criminality etc.), particularly the first, Aged Miners home part? Given your description of Ashington itself this immediately sprang to mind!

Edit: Thanks for the excellent report BTW.

Well I didn’t experience any confrontational behaviour but I did feel a sense of unease on the route. I mainly passed dog walkers, though the breeds they were walking weren’t the type you’d want to see off the lead. There’s a short wooded section after the Aged Miners home path which was littered with discarded cans and dog poo bags. In fact there was an awful lot of dog mess on the path so if you do walk it, look where you’re treading!

Of course all this could be my middle-class perception and if I had said a cheery hello to any passers by, chances are they would have been perfectly civil.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Well I didn’t experience any confrontational behaviour but I did feel a sense of unease on the route. I mainly passed dog walkers, though the breeds they were walking weren’t the type you’d want to see off the lead. There’s a short wooded section after the Aged Miners home section which was littered with discarded cans and dog poo bags. In fact there was an awful lot of dog mess on the path so if you do walk it, look where you’re treading!

Of course all this could be my middle-class perception and if I had said a cheery hello to any passers by, chances are they would have been perfectly civil.

I think you would be better suited to spending a few hours in Morpeth which is much more middle class!

Ashington isn't the best but it has had a few decades of economic hardship. It never recovered from the pit closures and then Tory Austerity didn't help matters. Hopefully, this new line drives a bit of investment.

 

[vic-rijrode]

I travelled from Newcastle to Ashington today for the first time. I am not really qualified as an enthusiast to comment on whether I think the line will be a success or what still needs to be completed or enhanced and when - others know far more than me - although Newsham station looks pretty complete and certainly the closest I would assume to be opened. The scale of the infrastructure being created at each of the stations is staggering for a 'local' line (so much for the 'why does it cost so much for a platform' brigade)...

It may have been the bright sunshine (or maybe the tuna and mayonnaise sandwich I had waiting for the train at Central Station), and I'm sure that the more hard-bitten railway professionals on here will think me daft, but I got quite emotional on the train, especially travelling over the 2 majestic viaducts en-route. So much so that I had to chat to the driver at Ashington about how much I had enjoyed the trip (he said he also enjoyed 'coming up here'!).

I am in my mid 70s and for at least 5 decades of my life I have been witness to the sad decline and decay of our railway system with the media jumping on every chance to ridicule it. So to travel on a line that had been shut to passengers since I was in my early teens was a wonderful experience albeit the line is not that long. I probably enjoyed it as much, if not more than, my trip a couple of years ago on the Settle and Carlisle line for different reasons.

 

[WesternLancer]

I travelled from Newcastle to Ashington today for the first time. I am not really qualified as an enthusiast to comment on whether I think the line will be a success or what still needs to be completed or enhanced and when - others know far more than me - although Newsham station looks pretty complete and certainly the closest I would assume to be opened. The scale of the infrastructure being created at each of the stations is staggering for a 'local' line (so much for the 'why does it cost so much for a platform' brigade)...

It may have been the bright sunshine (or maybe the tuna and mayonnaise sandwich I had waiting for the train at Central Station), and I'm sure that the more hard-bitten railway professionals on here will think me daft, but I got quite emotional on the train, especially travelling over the 2 majestic viaducts en-route. So much so that I had to chat to the driver at Ashington about how much I had enjoyed the trip (he said he also enjoyed 'coming up here'!).

I am in my mid 70s and for at least 5 decades of my life I have been witness to the sad decline and decay of our railway system with the media jumping on every chance to ridicule it. So to travel on a line that had been shut to passengers since I was in my early teens was a wonderful experience albeit the line is not that long. I probably enjoyed it as much, if not more than, my trip a couple of years ago on the Settle and Carlisle line for different reasons.

That’s a very nice report to read.

 

[Falcon1200]

I also went for a trip to Ashington this week, in my case on Wednesday. The journey was enjoyable and the two viaducts are indeed a highlight, although it is sobering looking afterwards at books on the North East's railways and realising just how much industry, and therefore railway, there used to be in the area.

Regarding further developments however, the 2-car Class 158 I was on, admittedly off-peak, had more than enough room for the patronage. Things will of course improve when the delayed stations open, but will there really ever be sufficient demand for any more than a half-hourly service to Newcastle, which could be 4-cars if it became necessary?

 

[zwk500]

Regarding further developments however, the 2-car Class 158 I was on, admittedly off-peak, had more than enough room for the patronage. Things will of course improve when the delayed stations open, but will there really ever be sufficient demand for any more than a half-hourly service to Newcastle, which could be 4-cars if it became necessary?

Remember frequency increases would require additional timetable paths, crew and units to run, whereas longer trains only require extra units. The line's only just opened, so it's worth waiting for a year or two to see how the use of the line develops before the next steps are talked about. Where no service exists, there's very limited data so the projections are always a bit hazy. Now the line is actually open, there'll be actual observed/recorded data so the future projections will be much better informed.

I'm sure there'll be plenty of speculative threads about what could happen anyway.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

I also went for a trip to Ashington this week, in my case on Wednesday. The journey was enjoyable and the two viaducts are indeed a highlight, although it is sobering looking afterwards at books on the North East's railways and realising just how much industry, and therefore railway, there used to be in the area.

Regarding further developments however, the 2-car Class 158 I was on, admittedly off-peak, had more than enough room for the patronage. Things will of course improve when the delayed stations open, but will there really ever be sufficient demand for any more than a half-hourly service to Newcastle, which could be 4-cars if it became necessary?

Agreed.

I think some of the issues around having four cars are during the evening and Sundays. The half hour frequency is fine but when it moves to hourly, especially on weekends, then four car units would be best.

If you have a cancellation during the hourly service then the next train will be very busy.

As for the industrial legacy, that part of Northumberland is rich in coal heritage. A trip to the Woodhorn Museum is a fine way to spend a few hours and learning about the area.

 

[Sunil_P]

Hopefully the mid-afternoon trains are currently free from hordes of screaming schoolkids?

 

[Willie Bee]

A trip to the Woodhorn Museum is a fine way to spend a few hours and learning about the area.

The Woodhorn Museum is temporarily closed at the moment.

I am not really sure why it is closed, or even when it will open again

 

[Killingworth]

The Woodhorn Museum is temporarily closed at the moment.

I am not really sure why it is closed, or even when it will open again

See my post 96 above. Open again at end of month.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Hopefully the mid-afternoon trains are currently free from hordes of screaming schoolkids?

Yes - there isn’t school traffic. Might be when the new stations open.

 

[typefish]

The high street is little more than a parade of charity shops

Don't let people know about Ashington's second best kept secret. Pretty sure it has by far the most competitively priced charity shops in the whole of the North East...

(The best kept secret is for me to know and no one else to hopefully find out!)

For those weird people like me who enjoy beautiful untouched coastline, I'd like to recommend instead of Newbiggin (which admittedly is nice), a beautiful place called Cresswell. It's a relatively short bus ride but the bus is something like 1p2h or something, however it's easy to walk up to Druridge Bay, or if you're feeling adventurous, up to Amble. There are amenities such as a cafe out there but it's desolate in the best way.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Don't let people know about Ashington's second best kept secret. Pretty sure it has by far the most competitively priced charity shops in the whole of the North East...

On my trip last week (reported above) I ventured out into Ashington High Street and purchased a (reasonably rare) Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov CD from the British Heart Foundation shop virtually next door to the railway as it continues towards Lynemouth.

Cost £1...

 

[Willie Bee]

See my post 96 above. Open again at end of month.

Thanks .. I didn't know that

Good news !

 

[xotGD]

Don't let people know about Ashington's second best kept secret. Pretty sure it has by far the most competitively priced charity shops in the whole of the North East...

Similarly Keighley has cheaper charity shops than neighbouring towns, certainly when it comes to books, if anyone fancies a browse when visiting the KWVR.

 

[Sunil_P]

Yes - there isn’t school traffic. Might be when the new stations open.

Thank you.

OK, so I resolved to visit the branch tomorrow, though it seems that today there's several services cancelled due to "an issue with the train crew".

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025

Train information at Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[rg177]

Thank you.

OK, so I resolved to visit the branch tomorrow, though it seems that today there's several services cancelled due to "an issue with the train crew".

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025

Train information at Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It was train rather than crew-related AFAIK. Service has now resumed.

 

[androdas]

Line was closed briefly mid afternoon, looked like a train was stuck in the single section at Seaton Delaval for about an hour and Northern on x.com said it was for a 'safety inpection'

Affected train was 2T35 got going eventually and arrived Ashington 73 late. RTT schedule here: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G37886/2025-01-21/detailed

As for the school traffic each station is in a different catchment area so cant really see much call for schoolkids travelling on the line en mass.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Thank you.

OK, so I resolved to visit the branch tomorrow, though it seems that today there's several services cancelled due to "an issue with the train crew".

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025

Train information at Ashington around 1500 on 21/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

As others have said, it was train related. A TPWS fault, I believe.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[androdas]

The council have published a guided walk on their website that starts and ends at Ashington station It has a sporting theme but takes in QE2 Park, Hirst Park and Woodhorn museum as well. Maybe one for the nicer weather and those unfamiliar with the town.

Full details here: https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/ashington-local-heroes-walking-tour

Northumberland County Council have partnered with Go Jauntly to create the Ashington Local Heroes Walking Tour which is hosted on the Go Jauntly app.

The tour starts and finishes at Ashington railway station and takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. You'll take in the Jackie Milburn statue, Queen Elizabeth 2nd Country Park, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington Football Heroes infoboard, Jack Charlton statue and Hirst Park to name a few.