Power supply upgrades have been completed at Darlington station, marking a key milestone in the £140 million transformational expansion project. The work paves the way for a new signalling system to be tested, which is crucial for bringing the station’s two new platforms into service.
The installation of platforms 5 and 6 will help Network Rail manage the flow of trains, reduce delays, and create capacity for more services in the future. To facilitate this, the lines through Darlington will be closed on Saturday, 11th and Sunday, 12th October, for planned signalling work.
As a result of the closures, several services will be impacted:
- CrossCountry services will not run between Leeds/York and Newcastle, with replacement buses operating.
- LNER will run a reduced, diverted service between London King’s Cross and Newcastle.
- Lumo will have a reduced service running only between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
- TransPennine Express will have no trains between York and Newcastle.
- Northern services will be disrupted, with bus replacements in operation.
The station project, a collaboration between Network Rail, LNER, the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Darlington Council, and the Department for Transport, also includes a new concourse and a connecting footbridge. While strong progress has been made, the project’s completion date has been revised from December 2025 to spring 2026 to accommodate additional design requirements for the new footbridge.
Luke Durston, Network Rail’s 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.”
