East Coast Main Line engineering work to affect Darlington

Works will be carried out between Northallerton and York this Bank Holiday <i>(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)</i>
Works will be carried out between Northallerton and York this Bank Holiday (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
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North East rail passengers and football fans will face more disruption on the region's network this Bank Holiday weekend due to planned engineering work.

Planned engineering works will take place between York and Northallerton from Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25.

Train operators have announced the following travel arrangements for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday, May 23 - Monday, May 25):

  • CrossCountry: Rail replacement buses will operate between York and Darlington.
  • Grand Central: No service to/from Sunderland, and the following alterations

    • Saturday and Monday: The 11.00 London King’s Cross to Sunderland will terminate at York and call additionally at Doncaster. The 15.32 Sunderland to London King’s Cross will start from York and call additionally at Doncaster.

    • Sunday: The 12.00 London King’s Cross to Sunderland will terminate at York and call additionally at Doncaster. The 14.30 Sunderland to London King’s Cross will start from York and additionally call at Doncaster.

  • LNER: Trains to and from the south will start and terminate at York, with trains to and from the north starting or terminating at Darlington or Northallerton. Rail replacement services will be in place between York, Northallerton and Darlington to assist with connections.
  • Lumo: A reduced and amended train service will run between Newcastle and Edinburgh/Glasgow Queen Street only.
  • TransPennine Express: No trains between York and Northallerton. Replacement buses will operate between York and Darlington/Redcar Central.

Jason Parrish, head of planning at Network Rail, said: “These improvements are an important investment in the long‑term resilience of the East Coast Main Line.

“Renewing life‑expired equipment, improving drainage and strengthening embankments all help reduce delays and protect the railway.

“While there is never a good time to close the railway, scheduling the work over the bank holidays allows us to minimise disruption and deliver best value.

“We’re grateful to passengers for their understanding while we complete this vital work.”

Middlesbrough fans will also face disruption, with the club having been awarded a place in the Championship Play-Off Final, which will kick-off at 3.30pm on Saturday, May 23 at Wembley Stadium.

Any fan heading to London from Northallerton or stations north (Darlington, Durham, Newcastle) will have to use a rail replacement bus service to get them to York.

They can then change onto a train to London King’s Cross.

TransPennine Express trains are still running from Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe and Yarm to York, but they are likely to be much busier than normal and do not run as frequently as the LNER services.

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