The opening date of the restored Northumberland Line between Newcastle and Ashington has now been confirmed as December, after earlier predictions that it would be carrying passengers this summer. The reason for the postponement has not been given.

Northern has also revealed that the first test journey was completed along the 29km route two days ago.

A Class 158 unit driven by Martin Rodger, accompanied by Mark Laverick, arrived at Ashington shortly before 09.30 on Monday, and training trips will now start.

The line has cost £298.5 million, and the reopening will be the result of a project supported by the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Northumberland County Council and Northern.

When the line reopens, trains will call at Ashington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval, Manors and Newcastle, running every 30 minutes during the day and once an hour in the evenings and on Sundays.

Three more stations at Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Northumberland Park are still being built, and will not open before next year.

Programme manager Paul Henry said: ‘We’re delighted to see a Northern train complete a test run along the line for the first time.

‘It marks an important milestone in a major construction project, as it has taken years of hard work to transform this old freight line into a railway that will soon be used by thousands of passengers every week.’