We would like to call upon Northumberland County Council to provide a dedicated 'Bus Meets Train' shuttle bus between the settlements of Alnwick and Amble via Alnmouth Railway Station, allowing for onward rail connections to be made from this well served station. 

This is in response to the currently poor Arriva bus services between these towns and the railway station, resulting in trips not being viable, missed connections or a reliance on taxis for non-drivers. 

This model is not unprecendented within Northumberland, with the dedicated 434 'Northumberland Line Connection' running between Widdrington Station, Ashington, and Bedlington Station performing a very similar function to this proposed one which could be a 'Castles and Coast Connection', and have a similar dedicated branding.

This service would link iconic castles such as Alnwick & Warkworth, as well as The Alnwick Garden, Lilidorei, Barter Books and more with Alnwick, and the fantastic Northumberland Coast near Amble (this service could be easily extended to Druridge Bay, a highly popular beach that is presently under served by public transport), with Amble itself a popular coastal town for visitors. 

A shuttle bus along this route would ideally run at least hourly, perhaps upto half hourly on a clockface schedule, and would provide an excellent link between a major railway station and significant settlements, home to major tourist attractions, which could cut car use, resulting in lower congestion and vehicle emissions, helping Northumberland to meet it's Net Zero commitments, as well as providing better transport equality for non-drivers who otherwise struggle to reach the railway station.