Chathill Station, one of Northumberland's quietest, could see more trains stop after a rail company boss backed its potential as a gateway to the coast.
Visitor growth and station usage
The station, on the East Coast Mainline, sits near Seahouses and Bamburgh, two of the county's most popular tourist spots. Despite this, it recorded just 1,580 passengers between April 2024 and March 2025, though that was up 25% on the previous year.
Locals have campaigned for more stops, and now Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, which runs Lumo services, has visited and said there is a "real opportunity" to strengthen its role.
Support from rail boss
Jones said: "North Northumberland has a truly beautiful and spectacular coastline. The recent growth in visitor numbers and tourism generally comes as no surprise to me and I can see the day when a rebranded and refurbished Chathill station might potentially come to be viewed as 'The Gateway to the Northumberland Coast'.
"Chathill sits at the gateway to one of the most stunning stretches of coastline anywhere in Britain and there is a real opportunity to further strengthen its role as a welcoming arrival point for visitors exploring North Northumberland."
Campaign group's reaction
John Holwell, spokesman for the Chathill Rail Action Group, said: "It is very encouraging to host a visit from Lumo. Stuart represents one of the most successful railway companies in the UK. His visit highlights the future potential of Chathill as a rail hub for North Northumberland."
Coun Guy Renner-Thompson, who represents the Bamburgh ward on Northumberland County Council, said: "CRAG took Mr Jones on a tour of the countryside to try and show him that the potential of the station lies beyond the small population of Chathill. It is about the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area. He seemed to be positive.
"Discussions are ongoing about improving the waiting room, which is a bit dilapidated. It's all positive."
