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Tuesday 16 Sep 2025

Darlington power upgrade marks milestone in £140m station project

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Power supply upgrades have been completed as work progresses on Darlington station’s £140m transformational expansion project.

The milestone paves the way for the updated signalling system to be tested – crucial for bringing the Victorian-era station’s two new platforms into service. The installation of platforms 5 and 6 will allow Network Rail teams to better manage the flow of trains, reducing delays and enabling capacity for more services in the future. As part of this process, planned signalling work means that lines will be closed through Darlington on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October. This means:

• No CrossCountry service between Leeds/York and Newcastle. Replacement buses will run between Leeds and Newcastle via Darlington and Durham.
• LNER will run a reduced service of one train per hour between London King’s Cross and Newcastle, on a diverted, longer route. Other LNER trains will run between London King’s Cross and York, and between Newcastle and Edinburgh/Aberdeen. Replacement coaches will run between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington and Durham.
• Lumo will have a reduced service running between Newcastle and Edinburgh only.
• TransPennine Express will have no trains between York and Newcastle. Trains towards Liverpool Lime Street will be diverted to start and terminate at York. A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between York and Newcastle.
• Northern will run services between Saltburn/Whitby/Middlesbrough and Eaglescliffe, and between Newcastle and Carlisle. Buses will be provided between:
  • Eaglescliffe and Bishop Auckland
  • Darlington and Newcastle via Chester-le-Street

The upcoming planned work represents a key stage in the station transformation project, involving Network Rail, LNER, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Darlington Council and majority funder the Department for Transport. The scheme, which also includes a new concourse building and connecting footbridge, will not only upgrade station facilities for passengers but provide a new integrated transport hub to bolster the region’s local and national transport links.

Despite making strong progress, the station project completion date has been revised from December 2025 to spring 2026. The adjusted date factors in additional design requirements to fully weather-proof the new footbridge connecting the Victorian station with the new eastern concourse building and platforms 5 and 6. 

Luke Durston, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: “The upcoming signalling work is a key step towards opening the new platforms at Darlington station. Passengers are advised to plan ahead with their respective train operator as we carry out this essential work.

“While we had originally aimed to complete the overall project by the end of 2025, additional design requirements – particularly for the complex footbridge structure – mean we’re now targeting spring 2026. We’re grateful to passengers, residents, and our partners for their continued patience and support as we work to complete this transformative upgrade.”