(19 Dec 2024, 9:07 pm)PH - BQA wrote RTT showing the following services cancelled today:

1217 Newcastle to Ashington
1300 Ashington to Newcastle
1847 Newcastle to Ashington
1930 Ashington to Newcastle
1949 Newcastle to Ashington
2030 Ashington to Newcastle
2216 Newcastle to Ashington

The above would mean that there's a 2.5 hour gap in trains to Newcastle from Ashington between 1900 and 2130, and that the last train of the day is also cancelled. Reasons given are issues with crew on each of them as far as I can tell. Anyone know if this is correct? Seems reasonably poor for week 1 of running the service.

It’s a typical pattern of cancellations on the Durham coast line. I still think the Northern region should be split , snd we go back to Regional Railways NE.  I don’t know if it’s true, but I feel Northerm have a heavy emphasis on Leeds and Manchester.

(19 Dec 2024, 11:35 pm)Economic505 wrote It’s a typical pattern of cancellations on the Durham coast line. I still think the Northern region should be split , snd we go back to Regional Railways NE.  I don’t know if it’s true, but I feel Northerm have a heavy emphasis on Leeds and Manchester.

Even worse today, 14 trips cancelled across the day (or 23% of the total service). 

0600 Ashington to Newcastle (first train of the day)
1046 Newcastle to Ashington
1130 Ashington to Newcastle
1417 Newcastle to Ashington
1459 Ashington to Newcastle
1511 Newcastle to Ashington
1600 Ashington to Newcastle
1646 Newcastle to Ashington
1730 Ashington to Newcastle
1749 Newcastle to Ashington
1830 Ashington to Newcastle
1917 Newcastle to Ashington
2015 Newcastle to Ashington
2130 Ashington to Newcastle

Northern really aren't giving the potential passengers of this the best impression of the service, if this line had been opened in the south I feel like they'd have moved heaven and earth to ensure there were minimal trips cancelled in the first week.