A £30m investment has been approved for one of Northumberland's most deprived towns. County councillors approved the funding for Ashington as part of the town's regeneration programme following years of decline. The funding includes cash from the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the government.

Ashington is in south east Northumberland, which is a largely urban area adjacent to Newcastle. Most of the area is of flat ground formed during the Carboniferous period when ancient tropical swamp forests were buried and formed the coal seams that have given this area its significance. [citation needed] The local geology is of yellow sandstone.

The line will bring back passenger services between Ashington and Newcastle, six decades after they stopped. Northumberland County Council says trains will start running this summer, but three stations, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Northumberland Park, will not be completed and will open later.

Major signalling and level crossing work has been completed on a new passenger line. Construction teams worked 24 hours a day over Easter to complete track upgrades at Bedlington on the Northumberland line. The line will bring back passenger services between Ashington and Newcastle, six decades after they stopped.