Train artwork celebrates area's proud history
26 Jun 2025
New train artwork celebrating the reopening of the Northumberland Line and the history of the local area has been unveiled.
Featuring depictions of local landmarks including Seaton Delaval Hall, Blyth Beach Huts and Woodhorn Colliery, the colourful vinyl was revealed during a ceremony at Ashington station earlier today.
It also includes football fans in Newcastle United and Sunderland colours, The Angel of the North and George Stephenson, the famous engineer from Northumberland who played a key role in the creation of the modern railway in 1875.
The Class 158 train, named The Northumbrian, will be seen by tens of thousands of people in the coming months as it covers hundreds of miles every day, while travelling along the Northumberland Line and other routes in the North of England.
It comes after the line was reopened to passengers in December – for the first time in 60 years – following a £298.5 million redevelopment.
Services are run by Northern and call at Newcastle, Manors and new stations in Seaton Delaval, Newsham and Ashington, with a journey along the entire route taking around 35 minutes and a single fare costing no more than £3.
More than 400,000 journeys have been made on the 18-mile route since it reopened, with services proving to be particularly popular during school holidays and weekends.
The train operator is now working to provide extra capacity from next month to meet demand, ensuring all Sunday services have four carriages.
Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said: "How great that some of the most iconic images of our county and our region are being highlighted along our new line.
"The project is changing the lives of thousands of people and the fact extra carriages are being brought into service from next month is testament to its popularity.
"It's bringing about not just a change in travel, but a real boost to the economy and the future prospects of this part of Northumberland."
Paul Henry, programme manager for the Northumberland Line, said: “Two hundred years after the birth of the modern railway in the North East, we created this fantastic artwork to celebrate another piece of history.
“The reopening of the Northumberland Line has had an enormous impact on the region, providing affordable and convenient transport to thousands of people.
“We will continue running a reliable service that connects local communities and allows people to explore the region, while preparing for the opening the remaining stations.”
Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: “The government has invested over £250 million to reopen the Northumberland Line, providing reliable, affordable, green transport, reconnecting neighbouring areas and delivering economic growth, jobs and homes.
“We are championing local communities, improving their transport links so they can support their favourite teams, enjoy local landmarks, and discover more about their region’s history.
“In the year of the 200th anniversary of the first rail passenger service, it is important to honour the dedication and ingenuity of our past whilst our Plan for Change supports and inspires the icons and trailblazers of the future, by investing in better access to jobs, education, and opportunities.”
The rail line, which had only been used by freight trains since the 1960s, opened to passengers on December 15 in 2024 thanks to a project involving the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Northumberland County Council and Northern.
The train operator is now running two daytime services an hour on the Northumberland Line from Monday to Saturday and one train per hour in the evenings and on Sundays​.
The maximum peak-time single fare – for the trip from Newcastle to Ashington – is £3 and a return trip costs £6. An off-peak single for the same journey is £2.60 and a return is £5.20.
Customers, who are required to buy a ticket before they board, are being reminded they can avoid waiting in line by purchasing them on the Northern website or app.
They can also buy Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG) cards, which allow them to tap in and out when they switch between Northumberland Line trains and Tyne and Wear Metro services.
Stations in Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park are under construction and due to open to customers later this year.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.