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The Morpeth (Rail) Diversion: Why should we do it?

All thoughts below are my own, and last edit 12:06, 27th June 2021. The railway route through Morpeth, Northumberland is not an ideal one, with a very sharp curve, especially for a mainline lying just west of Morpeth station itself. Safety This curve has been the sight of a number of accidents since its construction,Continue reading “The Morpeth (Rail) Diversion: Why should we do it?”

Plenty of potential for Pegswood Station

On a quick visit to Pegswood Station recently, and driving past on my commute to work, Pegswood Station strikes me as a great asset that has ample potential to be realised. Pegswood Station is just north of Morpeth on the East Coast Mainline (ECML), lies a few miles west of Ashington and nearby to theContinue reading “Plenty of potential for Pegswood Station”

Morpeth to Bebside or Newsham by rail?

Extending the current local rail service to Morpeth from Newcastle on to Bedlington (via a reopened Choppington & I would argue for a new Stobhill too) has been long since mooted but some different opinions hold on the reversal method at Bedlington; does it run over a level crossing into Furnace sidings and come back, doesContinue reading “Morpeth to Bebside or Newsham by rail?”

Blyth & Cramlington Tramlink

With the Northumberland Line project making steady progress, and planning applications beginning to appear, thoughts turn to ‘what next?’. One often suggested is the link into Blyth Town Centre which will be, admittedly, quite distant from both Bebside and Newsham stations which are on the existing route on the western edge of town. Blyth didContinue reading “Blyth & Cramlington Tramlink”

#MorpethBay

To try and illustrate the concept of the Morpeth Bay idea facilitating a possible Morpeth – Bedlington & beyond rail service, a chalk sketch of my idea can be seen above. In brief; Services between Morpeth and Bedlington (& beyond) would be independent of East Coast Mainline (ECML) services; allowing greater potential flexibility, and resilienceContinue reading “#MorpethBay”

Thoughts on the Morpeth – Choppington – Bedlington Line & Beyond

The recent visit of a DMU (158 816) working a Newcastle – Bedlington – Morpeth – Newcastle diagram (train route) on 25.11.20 brought into focus the Morpeth Branch; the line linking Bedlington and Morpeth and how could this line see the return of passenger rail services. Please note: All of the following is strictly myContinue reading “Thoughts on the Morpeth – Choppington – Bedlington Line & Beyond”

The eHighway Opportunity

To decarbonise road transport and especially that of road freight, Siemens has been developing the eHighway; overhead electrification at 670v DC using pantographs to power HGV’s along routes such as motorways. This link from Business Insider gives quite a lot of detail into the scheme. The trucks themselves are hybrids, able to operate both onContinue reading “The eHighway Opportunity”