Northumberland’s Labour group is concerned to hear that a ‘cost challenge exercise’ is to be carried on the new railway line linking Ashington and Byth to the city.

Labour Group Leader Susan Dungworth said: “It is alarming to hear that an exercise to see if the number of trains could be cut from two per hour to one per hour and removing Blyth Bebside Station is being carried out.

“We’ve heard that the Prime Minister’s transport adviser, treasury officials and the government’s ‘acceleration unit’ has set down this challenge to the Northumberland Line project in the face of financial pressures in the rail industry.

“This will come as a major bow for the people of South East Northumberland and SENRUG (the South East Northumberland Rail User Group) who have campaigned tirelessly for this route to be restored with increased access through local stations and frequency of trains.

“Tackling climate change through greener transport and increased job opportunities are seriously threatened of the rail line is not convenient and attractive to users.

“Once again, this area, which has endured years of underfunding and cuts under the Tories is going to suffer.