Signal box at new station to be demolished

A railway signal box is being demolished as part of a project to open a station on a new line.

The structure, at Newsham Station in Blyth, Northumberland, was built as part of the Blyth and Tyne railway and is described by Northumberland County Council as "completely redundant" and "not structurally sound".

It is due to be dismantled over the weekend.

Daniel Carr, councillor for South Blyth said: "There was a bit of upset that it had to come down but it just wasn't viable to keep it there."

As part of the upgrade of the Northumberland Line, which has seen passenger services restored to the line for the first time in more than 60 years, signalling is now controlled from a centre in Newcastle.

Newsham is one of a number of the original signal boxes to be demolished, including Marcheys House and North Seaton.

Northumberland County Council acknowledged many people would be disappointed to see the one at Newsham disappear, but said a historical recording had taken place so there was a record of its existence and the layout of all the boxes demolished.

Carr added: "I was told by someone who'd been inside that the bricks of Newsham actually shake when trains go past and there is scaffolding inside holding it together.

"It would have been nice for it to have been used as a heritage cafe or something but it just isn't possible."

In December, Northumberland County Council said Newsham Station would open "early in the new year" but no date has yet been announced.

The remaining three stations of the Northumberland Line, at Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park are scheduled to open later in 2025.

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