New transport scheme could see new Belford rail station

Feb 2 2010 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

A NORTHUMBERLAND village could finally get a much-needed rail link.

Council leaders are being asked to give the green light to a £1.5m transport scheme which would see a new station built at Belford.

The village, north of Alnwick, currently sees trains travel into its existing station to turn around, however, there is no platform, as it was removed in 1969 when the service was axed.

The new railway station at Belford will allow passengers to use the services that stop there but are currently impossible to gain access to.

As well as a new station at Belford, if given the go-ahead, the proposals will see the £1.5m from the Department for Transport be spent on a programme of improvements at Morpeth, Cramlington and Alnmouth stations.

The scheme is at an early stage and further studies and land investigation works will still need to be completed, but it is hoped that work could commence in early 2011.

Villagers, who currently have to travel five miles to catch a train, formed the Belford Rail User Group (BRUG) in order to campaign for the station to be reopened. BRUG chairman and Belford parish councillor Geoff O’Connell said: “I’m over the moon. It’s been a long slog that has taken just over 10 years.