The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised Bedlington Station, marking the final milestone before the full reopening of the Northumberland Line.
The station is set to open to passengers on Sunday 29 March, completing the restoration of the line and bringing rail services back to communities across the region.
Key milestone for reopening
ORR’s approval covers the station’s two new platforms and a range of passenger facilities, including information systems, help points, lighting, CCTV and ticketing infrastructure, as well as a newly constructed car park.
The authorisation confirms that the station meets required standards across areas such as health and safety, accessibility, environmental protection, reliability and availability.
Collaborative delivery
The regulator worked closely with Network Rail, Northern and the wider project team throughout the process, ensuring that all necessary checks and surveys were completed ahead of opening.
Steve Fletcher, Deputy Director, Engineering and Asset Management at ORR, said:
“This is an important final step in getting the whole Northumberland line open, and we look forward to passengers experiencing the full benefits of Bedlington station and the fully reopened line soon.
“We’re pleased to have played our part in getting Bedlington station ready to open. Our team worked closely Network Rail and Northern to support them through the authorisation process, just as we do for new trains and infrastructure across the country.”
Restoring rail connections
The reopening of Bedlington station completes the wider Northumberland Line programme, which has seen the reintroduction of passenger services to a route that had been closed for decades.
The project is expected to improve connectivity across the region, offering new travel options for local communities and supporting access to jobs, education and leisure opportunities.
