A PRETTY UK seaside town will be getting trains from London for the first time.
The operator Grand Central has launched the first-ever direct trains between Seaham and London.
There are now four direct services between Seaham and London King’s Cross in each direction, every day.
Before the service was launched, passengers travelling from Seaham would have to change trains to travel into London, taking the total journey time to four hours.
The new direct service sheds 30 minutes off of that journey time, taking around three and a half hours in total.
One-way tickets cost from £30.50 per person, when booked in advance.
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Chris Brandon, director at Grand Central, said: “For the first time in history, residents here have a direct, reliable connection to London — a connection that reflects the town’s growing ambition and needs.
“This launch reflects our mission to continue investing in the North East: through our £300million order of new trains, and through seeking increased track access rights, which will allow us to provide more services in the region for years to come.”
Grahame Morris, Member of Parliament for Easington, said: “The East Durham Coastline has been underused for decades, and I’m delighted that Grand Central has recognised the enormous potential of this route and worked hard to make it a reality.”
Seaham is located around a 17-minute drive from Sunderland in County Durham.
And the town is even home to a famous beach that stretches a mile-long and often features lots of sea glass, ideal for collecting.
Sea glass is man-made glass that at some point or another has ended up in the sea.
And when it does, it is ground down over the years and eventually washes up on the shore.
In fact, there’s more sea glass in Seaham than in other beach destinations.
This is because during the Victorian era there was a bottle factory nearby that used to put waste directly into the sea.
There is even a beach called Glass Beach, located at the front of the town.
One recent visitor said: “If you’re looking for a place to find treasure then this is the one!
“There’s loads to see here from beautiful glass and fossils to a friendly little robin that comes and sits with you while you hunt for treasure.”
But if you want to explore a sandy spot, then head to The Slope Beach which looks out at Seaham Lighthouse.
A recent visitor said: “A hidden Seaham gem, with a gently sloping sandy beach leading down to a protected sea, with great views of the lighthouse at the far end of the pier.
“Great parking, a freshwater tap at the top of the beach, and all the facilities of the marina right next door, including toilets and a fantastic array of cafes.
“A great trip out for the kids, or a peaceful few hours to one’s self when they’re in school. Lovely!”
The town itself then also features a number of places to grab a bite to eat, including a Wetherspoons pub.
Or just up from Seaham Beach you can head to the Crows Nest pub, where you can order mac and cheese or Hunter’s chicken for £11.79.
If you fancy fresh seafood, head to The Lamp Room with options including a surf and turf salad for £16.95 or a seafood linguine for £15.95.
One diner commented: “The food was amazing, fresh, and very tasty.
“We had fresh mussels with fries, and the sauce was delicious.”
In other UK destination news, the English seaside towns and cities getting multi-million pound upgrades next year – with new rides and attractions.
Plus, the 2,700-mile path that runs along pretty UK seaside towns is set to be the longest in the world.
