Disruption warning during rail station upgrade

Darlington railway station's extension was due to open in December but this has been pushed back until next year

Commuters are being warned of delays as further work on a railway station begins.

Journeys between York and Newcastle will be affected from 29 November to 1 December when Darlington station's new signalling system is brought into use, Network Rail said.

It comes after the opening of an extension to the station, due to be completed in December, was pushed back to spring 2026.

Labour Darlington MP Lola McEvoy said: "We're the home of the railways so it's not without irony that we can't seem get this built properly."

Network Rail said the new signalling system would be key in managing trains, cutting delays and enabling capacity for more services in the future.

The work is part of an £140m upgrade which will include two new platforms on the station's eastern side to ensure better connectivity along the East Coast Main Line and the region.

McEvoy said: "It's a big job, hopefully it will transform our rail network but ultimately they need to get a move on.

"The delays aren't what anybody wants to hear."

Passengers have been advised check their journey details before travelling during the weekend work, but planned changes include:

• CrossCountry will run rail replacement buses between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington and Durham

• LNER will operate one train an hour between York and Newcastle on a diversion route, resulting in no LNER services between Darlington and Durham

• Northern will provide rail replacement buses between Eaglescliffe and Bishop Auckland and between Darlington and Newcastle via Durham and Chester-le-Street.

• TransPennine Express will have rail replacement buses between York and Newcastle, calling at Darlington, Durham and Chester-le-Street