Restored rail link support grows online
Mar 7 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
MORE than 1,000 people have signed an online petition in support of a long-running campaign to restore passenger train services to Northumberland’s most heavily populated area.
Rail campaigners say they are delighted at the response to the Downing Street petition launched as part of efforts to secure the re-opening of the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne freight line to the public.
The South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) is hoping the successful e-petition to the Prime Minister will help win vital Government backing for the campaign to restore passenger services, which were axed as part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s.
SENRUG has also secured funding from Wansbeck District Council to charter a special train to make three separate journeys along the line this summer, including two for fare-paying passengers keen to see the campaign succeed.
The group hopes the trips, the date for which is still to be confirmed, will provide further evidence that passenger services are viable between Newcastle and Ashington, and put added pressure on ministers to support the re-opening of the line.
The latest in a series of studies is currently being carried out by Network Rail into the technical feasibility and costs of using the route for hourly passenger services between Newcastle and Ashington. The findings are expected around May. Yesterday, SENRUG chairman Dennis Fancett said he hoped the support for the petition would help influence decision-makers at both national and local level to invest in the re-opening of the line.
“This is a regional petition about a specific local issue, in an area where there is not a very high incidence of home internet access, and to have so many people signing is very good. It shows the Government minister responsible for rail, and the local authorities, that there is considerable public support for this campaign.
“People have said this is a pipe dream, because it has been going on for so long, but all of the activity over the last year has made local people realise this is viable and achievable, with a bit of political will.”
The campaign to re-open the ABT line dates back 15 years. It would involve regular services between Newcastle and Ashington, with stops at Newsham in Blyth, Bedlington Station and Choppington. The SENRUG e-petition will run until the end of the month and can be signed at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ABTreopening
A Downing Street spokesman said the SENRUG petition would be sent to the relevant Government department, examined and a reply sent out to the organisers. “These petitions are taken notice of because they are very useful as a good gauge of public opinion,” he added.
