SENRUG, the group that campaigns for better rail transport in South East Northumberland, is holding its next public meeting on Thursday 16th July, at 7.30 pm, at the Methodist Church in Morpeth, Howard Terrace, off Dark Lane.

The speaker on this occasion will be Denis Murphy, MP for Wansbeck. It is expected Mr Murphy will talk about how parliamentary processes work, and his role in profiling various local issues, including SENRUG’s campaigns, nationally.

Although the pro-rail group is not politically aligned, they believe it is appropriate to invite the Wansbeck MP to be their speaker and to thank him for the considerable support he has given to their campaign to see the Ashington Blyth & Tyne Line re-opened to regular passenger trains.

This campaign has taken a significant step forward in the last two weeks, with the publication of a report from the Association of Train Operators [ATOC] listing the scheme as one of 14 across the country whose re-opening would be cost justified and should be taken forward. SENRUG Chairman Dennis Fancett commented: “at last we have serious support for our campaign from within the rail industry. It proves we are being listened to; we are more than a bunch of amateurs trying to promote our own backyard scheme”

But the Ashington Blyth & Tyne re-opening is not the only issue the group deals with. “We also pursue better local and inter-city rail services on the Morpeth line and better station facilities” said Dennis Fancett. “Right now we are concentrating on the fact the government says it is taking back the East Coast Main Line franchise from National Express and intends to re-let it. This is the 2nd time this has happened, with it previously being forfeited by GNER, and I think the government should look carefully at the whole franchising approach and consider if it really works. I can not help thinking that a lot of money that could be spent on improving rail services is actually spent on lawyers and accountants and preparing bids”.

SENRUG’s public meeting is open to all and tea and coffee is served before the meeting starts. The group will take its AGM business after the talk from Denis Murphy. More details about the group can be found at www.senrug.co.uk