#MorpethBay 

What is the Morpeth Bay?
I would propose that reinstating the 'Blyth and Tyne' bay platforms at Morpeth Station would be worthwhile to allow more frequent services to run to/from Morpeth to towns eastward such as Bedlington & Blyth, which are soon to reopen as part of the Northumberland Line (expected Aug 2024 as of April 2023).
Rebuilding the bay platform here holds a few key advantages -
Independence not dependence - historically, the 'Blyth and Tyne' was a self contained system and that approach still holds advantages today; independence from the ECML would allow for higher frequencies than services branching from the mainline which presently (April 2023) only run hourly about from Newcastle.
Matching the half-hourly service soon to be seen on the Northumberland Line surely should be the aspiration and would minimise connection times? Independence from ECML could also potentially allow for 'clockface' timetabling, with trains arriving and departing at regular intervals; dependence on ECML paths would likely keep frequencies lower, and less likelihood of 'clockface' timetabling both of which would hamper this route as a link to the substantial towns eastward.
Connectivity - Getting to/from Morpeth Station can be challenging at present - the local roads tend to suffer traffic congestion, holding up both cars and buses (many of which also don't connect to the station directly) and parking can be an issue at peak times. Recreating the Morpeth Bay would bring trains directly into the station with a cross platform interchange between services to/from the east and those running north/south along the mainline, many of which connect far off destinations in England and Scotland.
Not only that, but the proposed extension of services currently terminating at Morpeth is to instead terminate them at Bedlington, which omits the largest town in Northumberland that is Blyth but branching a Northumberland Line service at Bedlington would give better frequencies on the 'core' route between Bedlington and Newcastle via Blyth whilst also offering interchange to long distance services, particularly those headed north into North Northumberland and Scotland, saving time compared to connection via Newcastle. One example could be a Morpeth to Cobalt/Royal Quays service running via Blyth.
However, both services could co-exist and may offer advantages in doing so.
Speed - The travel time between Morpeth and Bedlington (inc a stop at a potential 'Choppington' station) is reputedly as low as 10minutes, comparing very favourably even to driving - most routes by road being through busy urban areas which makes for slow progress. The 2 bus is quoted by Google Maps at 27minutes for Morpeth Station to soon to reopen Bedlington trip. Bebside would be reached in about 35minutes via the 2 bus, probably in a comfortable 15mins by rail.
For more, please visit morpethbay.wordpress.com/