A BROKEN down freight train near Darlington railway station caused severe rush hour delays on the East Coast Mainline. 

The stricken train was pulling fourteen empty trucks northbound and passing through the town’s station before stopping just south of the station.

Passenger trains along the line were stuck until a recovery engine arrived at 5.18pm to tow the goods train away. 

Northbound and southbound services were severely delayed with the 4.15pm service to Newcastle eventually arriving calling into Darlington at 5.45pm.

Stranded passengers were forced to wait or make other transport arrangements.

Sue Mackay, travelling from Darlington to Edinburgh, said: “It’s horrendous. It already happened on our way down to Darlington from Edinburgh yesterday, we were delayed by two and a half hours.

“As long as we get home eventually it’ll be okay.”

A spokesman for National Rail enquiries confirmed a broken down train at Darlington was causing delays in the area.

Passengers delayed for more than one hour are entitled to compensation of up to 50 per cent of the original ticket price.

The routes affected are: 

  • CrossCountry between Plymouth and Glasgow Central / Dundee
  • Virgin Trains East Coast between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh
  • First TransPennine Express between Liverpool Lime Street and Newcastle
  • Northern Rail between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn