New railway station for Belford

About £1.5m is to be spent on the rail infrastructure in Northumberland which will include the construction of a new station.

The Department of Transport funds will be used to integrate bus and rail services at Morpeth and improve parking at Cramlington and Alnmouth.

The new station will be built at Belford, where there are currently no passenger facilities.

It is hoped that work will commence in early 2011, said the county council.

Councillor Alan Armstrong, executive member for highways and transport, said: "These four schemes will significantly improve access to rail services and stations for both residents and visitors to the area.

"For Belford in particular, this is a fantastic opportunity to link into the rail network and enable members of the public to travel to Newcastle by train."