Plea to keep rail link open

Published on 11/07/2012 12:00

Rail bosses have been urged to rethink plans to close the line between Edinburgh and Newcastle on the weekend of the Great North Run.

Organisers said the proposed track work on September 15 and 16 would inconvenience thousands of visitors to the sporting event. They said runners and their families taking the train from Scotland would have to travel via Carlisle, adding up to 90 minutes to their journey.

Network Rail apologised but said most people would be unaffected as routes from the south and west would remain open as usual.