A formal bid to extend a railway line which has seen more than 900,000 passenger journeys in the year since it reopened has been submitted.

Northumberland County Council asked the North East Combined Authority to extend the Northumberland Line, which connects south-east Northumberland to Tyneside, to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Conservative leader of the council Glen Sanderson said the total cost of the scheme was yet to be worked out, adding: “It is going to be very expensive, but I’m sure it will be worthwhile.”

Labour North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she would like to see the line extended further into the county. She said: “We’ll support a business case to see what is possible.”

The success of the line has prompted discussions on extending it further, with Newbiggin identified as a key destination.

This is despite the fact two of the line’s stations – Bedlington and Northumberland Park – have not yet opened and are only expected to do so in early 2026.

The extension would require additional track laying, unlike the rest of the reopened line which used existing freight lines, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Sanderson said: “We very much want to extend the Northumberland Line.

“We think Newbiggin is the next step but we can’t afford it on our own.”

He said he thought the project would be the “logical and popular thing NECA could be spending money on”.

“The need is there, and the ambition from us is there – I’m very much hoping this can be the next step,” Sanderson said.

Newbiggin was formerly the final stop on the Blyth and Tyne Railway, with a station serving the town from 1872 until 1964.

Provision was made when building the new Northumberland Line stations to extend the line to Newbiggin.

McGuinness added: “The Northumberland Line has already proved its value to local people and we’re investing £10.9m to make sure its completed as planned.”