A CAMPAIGNER is hoping a regular train service could finally return to a Northumberland town.
Belford Station in Northumberland, which has been closed since 1969, could finally get a regular train service as the long, drawn-out campaign to reopen it creeps slowly towards a conclusion.
The trains that pass through the former station have been nicknamed ‘ghost trains’, as they arrive empty, use Belford to turn around, then head back towards Newcastle without opening their doors for passengers.
But with £600,000 allocated to the project from the Government, the process is edging towards a decision and Northumberland County Council said it ‘remains their intention’ that the project goes ahead.
Back in February 2010 The Journal reported how the project was at an early stage with several studies to be completed. The process is now up to the GRIP (Governance in Railway Infrastructure Project) 4 study, where Network Rail develops the idea before creating a detailed design (GRIP 5) and commissioning the project (GRIP 6). It follows successful previous GRIP studies, and a ‘Project Inception Report’ has been approved by the Department for Transport.
At the time it was hoped work might begin in 2011. Now, the county council’s draft public transport strategy suggests the station could be open by the summer of 2013, to be the first station to be opened in the North East since Yarm in 1996. But the GRIP 4 study itself will cost a six figure sum and if the Government money proves not to be enough, it could delay the process.
Campaigner Geoff O’Connell said he has campaigned for 14 years for services to be reinstated and he is now very hopeful the trains will collect passengers rather than just turn around.
He said: “It’s the ghost train – it appears, you can’t get on, and it goes away again. I’ve been a parish councillor for years in Belford and it was originally raised by members of the public who were becoming increasingly incensed at seeing these trains.
“An awful lot of work has already been done and we’re heading towards the final furlong. So 14 years later and a few grey hairs over it – but I won’t go away.”
Transport chiefs hope the new single platform will be used both for work and education trips to Newcastle.
Mike Scott, head of sustainable transport at Northumberland County Council, said: “We are currently undertaking a preliminary costing exercise in advance of a full GRIP 4 design study (the GRIP 4 study alone will cost the council a six figure sum). This preliminary costing exercise will allow us to understand the financial commitment to the council associated with the station going forward – both in terms of construction costs and also the future year on year costs of the station. We have £600,000 of Government funding that is available to build the station, but if the costing exercise suggests that this is not enough then the council will need to review its funding plan before committing to a delivery timescale.”
It’s the ghost train – it appears, you can’t get on, and it goes away again
