The Northumberland railway line will reopen as a Greenway walking and cycling route, celebrating its 60th closure anniversary.
Northumberland: A disused railway line is getting a new lease on life. It’s set to reopen as a Greenway, making it accessible for everyone. This is happening right on the 60th anniversary of its closure.
The Alnwick to Cornhill Railway shut down on March 29, 1965, but the last trains actually ran way back in 1953. Now, the first phase of the Borderline Greenway is almost ready. It features a 5km loop connecting Alnwick town center to the new Greensfield Bridge.
The folks at Borderline Greenway CIC are aiming for a grand opening on March 29. They see this as a fresh start for the old railway line. The Greenway will have a two-meter wide track, making it safe for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, and even those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Eventually, they want to create a massive Greenway Trail across nearly 100 miles of former railway lines and current cycle paths. This will link the Pennine Cycleway and the Coast and Castles Cycle Route, which only connect at Berwick-upon-Tweed right now.
For Phase One, they’ve cleared over 75 years of overgrowth to reveal the original gravel track. They’ve also fixed the drainage system, built a new bridge at Greensfield, and put up fencing to keep livestock away. Plus, they secured a 25-year lease for public access from Northumberland Estates.
So far, they’ve done all this without national funding, raising over £100,000 through donations and support from local councils. Next, they’re working on a £2.4 million funding application and need to get access agreements from landowners along the old railway line.
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