Initiative
The Northumberland Line is designed to stimulate economic growth, regeneration, and community development across Northumberland and the surrounding regions. The project will deliver new and improved transport links for local people and businesses, leaving a positive and lasting legacy.

Bedlington Station, the last of six new stations constructed as part of the project, opened on 29 March 2026.

Implementation
Forte Engineering delivered the mechanical, electrical and telecoms installation for the two platform station and car park including:

• Installation of over 2000 metres of cabling to enable the infrastructure.
• Installation and commissioning of station lighting and small power.
• Installation and commissioning of Station Information and Security Systems (SISS), working collaboratively with the Northern Rail IT team.
• Installation and commissioning of car park lighting and EV Chargers.

Expertise
The Bedlington Station programme was challenging due to the presence of many unmapped buried utilities (many associated with the railway line) and constraints due to working next to an operating railway line.

Our flexible approach ensured we could adapt to installing elements, for example, platform lighting, as soon as conditions allowed.

Works were further impacted by the presence of level crossings near the station, requiring careful planning to ensure deliveries to site were not scheduled when the crossing was closed.

The final station to open on the Northumberland Line, Bedlington will:

• Provide passengers with a new connection to the rail network. 
• Provide passengers with a modern, accessible environment, with the latest station technology.
• Help to boost the region’s economy through improving access to jobs, a key driver for the scheme.

Social Value
Embedding sustainable and social value principles is integral to our approach. We achieved the following on this project:

• Resourcing 4 apprentices to work on this project, developing skills for the future.
• Working with Rail Safe Friendly, delivered rail safety education to local schools.
• Use of local labour and businesses as part of our supply chain.