Latest news with #NorthumberlandLine
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bedlington residents' frustration as rail station delayed
The news that a town's new station has been delayed until 2026 has been met with Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until next is the latest disappointment for Bedlington residents who feel the town is treated as a poor relation to others nearby. Between 2017 and 2023, it received £13.01m in capital investment from the county council, compared to £23.23m in Ashington and £39.4m in County Council leader Glen Sanderson insisted work was progressing on the station as quickly as possible. Jeanette Stoker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I've seen people on the train travelling up and down and we can't get on it. "It would be so helpful for elderly people if they wanted to go to Newcastle - it's frustrating."David McArdle said he was disappointed the railway had been delayed but felt it would be a positive for the town when it was finally said: "When it does come back, it will bring more people to the area, more tourists." 'I wish I never moved here' John Hume said it was very positive to have the return of passenger rail to the area for the first time since the 1960s. He said: "After 30-odd years waiting for it, they're doing it now."They are spending the money on it."Rosemary Wealleans moved to the town from Ashington five years ago. She said: "We've got nothing here. We need something like a swimming pool, but we get nothing and Ashington gets everything."I wish I had never moved here." Residents have long called for improved leisure facilities, but as yet none have been Stoker said: "There's nowt for the younger people now. No wonder they're getting into trouble."However, there has been positive news for the town in recent was completed on four new retail units at the town's market Northumberland, the Conservative-led council's development company, is set to move forward with the final two phases of the four-phase redevelopment of the town town has also benefited from Borderlands funding as part of the Town Deal programme, with up to £3m set to be invested. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations delayed until 2026
Residents have been left frustrated by the latest delays to the opening of two new railway Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until Robinson, Independent councillor for Bedlington West, said the delays were "eroding the public's trust" in such projects. Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson, said the project was "challenging" and the local authority was working to get the remaining stations open as soon as possible. It was initially hoped the 18-mile (29km) line would open with six new stations, but only two, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, were completed when the line reopened to passengers, six decades on from the services in Station opened in reason has been given for the delay by the local authority or rail operator Northern, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 'Immensely complicated' Robinson, said residents had been "mostly unsurprised" by the news."It is a shame that Bedlington can't be part of this great success that is the Northumberland Line," he said. "We've had that many promises time and time again. At the end of the day you're eroding public trust in all these projects."The worst part is we're waving at trains trundling through Bedlington so many times a day that it cuts the town in half because of the level crossing and we can't get on them."Lets hope it is open in the new year, but I think people in Bedlington will believe it when they see it."Blyth Bebside station is still due to open in to Robinson's comments, Sanderson said: "I would rather under-promise and not delay than the other way round. "We're working as fast as we can."Producing a new railway line is an immensely complicated and challenging project – but we are going to stick with it."I'm sure that, within a matter of months, Bedlington will be open and people will be able to enjoy it." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Business Wire
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AECOM to provide comprehensive technical services for enhanced railway safety across England
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AECOM (NYSE: ACM), the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced it has been awarded a position on Network Rail's Asset Protection (ASPRO) support services framework for the North West & Central region. The three-year framework, with an optional two-year extension, will see AECOM supporting the region's three ASPRO services teams to mitigate risks to the railway during third-party and outside-party organizations work on or near Network Rail-owned or operated infrastructure. 'AECOM is proud to support ASPRO services in the North West & Central region, continuing our longstanding relationship with Network Rail as we bring together our years of experience and deep bench of skillsets to bear,' says Mark Southwell, chief executive of AECOM's global Transportation business. 'As the industry's top rail and mass transit firm, our teams possess the comprehensive technical capabilities to ensure safe, reliable improvement work by Network Rail partners across England.' This appointment follows AECOM's 18-year history of providing asset protection services for Network Rail and will involve work with key clients including local authorities, and train and freight operating companies. AECOM will be supported on the framework by SLC, building on its existing strong partnership and SLC's experience in the development and delivery of third-party rail schemes for local authorities, developers and operators. 'Successfully navigating the processes within the rail sector to facilitate the execution of third-party and outside-party projects is crucial—it helps keep the operational rail environment safe and encourages future investment too,' said Nathan Campsall, Director of SLC. 'Our people are experts at working in this area and we look forward to supporting the continued development and innovation of ASPRO services with AECOM and Network Rail.' 'We're honored to partner with SLC as we extend our role on the next generation rail investments across the UK,' said Richard Whitehead, chief executive of AECOM's Europe & India region. 'We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety on every project we deliver, and our integrated expertise across transportation, program management and engineering prepares us to safeguard critical improvement operations along the UK's busiest rail routes. The framework covers a broad range of services, including program, project management, engineering, commercial, construction and project management office (PMO) roles. The appointment also follows AECOM and SLC's delivery of a number of third-party funded rail schemes in recent years, including the West Midlands Rail Programme and the Northumberland Line project, which reopened for passenger travel in December 2024 after 60 years of solely transporting freight. About AECOM AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients' complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Learn more at Forward Looking Statements All statements in this communication other than statements of historical fact are 'forward-looking statements' for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, profitability, strategic value creation, capital allocation strategy including stock repurchases, risk profile and investment strategies, and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, and the expected financial and operational results of AECOM. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our business is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and client spending reductions; potential government shutdowns, changes in administration or other funding directives and circumstances that may cause governmental agencies to modify, curtail or terminate our contracts; losses under fixed-price contracts; limited control over operations that run through our joint venture entities; liability for misconduct by our employees or consultants; changes in government laws, regulations and policies, including failure to comply with laws or regulations applicable to our business; maintaining adequate surety and financial capacity; potential high leverage and inability to service our debt and guarantees; ability to continue payment of dividends; exposure to political and economic risks in different countries, including tariffs and trade policies, geopolitical events, and conflicts; inflation, currency exchange rates and interest rate fluctuations; changes in capital markets and stock market volatility; retaining and recruiting key technical and management personnel; legal claims and litigation; inadequate insurance coverage; environmental law compliance and adequate nuclear indemnification; unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog; partners and third parties who may fail to satisfy their legal obligations; managing pension costs; AECOM Capital real estate development projects; cybersecurity issues, IT outages and data privacy; risks associated with the benefits and costs of the sale of our Management Services and self-perform at-risk civil infrastructure, power construction and oil and gas businesses, including the risk that any purchase adjustments from those transactions could be unfavorable and result in any future proceeds owed to us as part of the transactions could be lower than we expect; as well as other additional risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements set forth in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Two-day festival to celebrate pagan festival Litha at Durham farm
A two-day festival will celebrate the pagan festival of Litha. Dalton Moor Farm, a County Durham wellness centre, will host the event from June 20 to June 22. In ancient times, the festival – now known as Midsummer or the summer solstice – was held throughout the Northern Hemisphere to mark the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year. Dalton Moor Farm will be opening its meadows, woodland, and orchard to visitors for the event. The festival will kick off on the Saturday, with a focus on wellbeing. Visitors can participate in yoga, reiki, and explore the properties of essential oils. There will also be guided meditations, chanting, breathing exercises, forest bathing, tree hugging, and drumming for wellbeing. Live music and poetry will continue into the evening. Sunday will be dedicated to family fun with circus, dance, drumming, a forest school, and an adventure trail. Craft workshops, craft traders, and a variety of healthy food and drinks will be available throughout the weekend. Dr Jenny Connor has spent the past decade transforming Dalton Moor Farm into a leading centre of sustainable farming and food production. She said: "As far back as Anglo Saxon times and probably earlier, people understood the importance of working in harmony with the land and the cycles of the seasons, and that is the ethos of everything we do here at Dalton Moor Farm. "I hope as many people as possible will join us for a celebration of this seasonal milestone as we acknowledge and show our gratitude for life on Earth and the precious gifts each season brings us." Tickets for the event are priced at £190 for a family weekend ticket and £75 for individual adults. Tickets for Saturday only are £120 for a family and £50 for individual adults. Sunday tickets are £99 for a family and £40 for adults. Children's tickets are £10 each day. Car parking is also available at a charge of £15 per day. READ MORE: Royal Visit Durham: Hundreds turn out for King and Queen Santoro's in Yarm hits market months after shock closure Northumberland Line to close for engineering works Overnight accommodation can be booked separately for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and is limited to three two-person bell tents and three shared wooden tipis. Additional camping may be available nearer the time. All tickets, which will incur booking charges, can be booked at
