Network Rail and train operators are urging passengers to plan ahead and check before travelling as vital work to improve reliability in and around Durham station takes place.
The £6 million project will see ten points, the specialist pieces of equipment which allow trains to move from one section of track to another, renewed, as well as 100 metres of track replaced.
Network Rail teams will also upgrade signalling equipment in the area, and improve some platforms in Durham station.
These vital upgrades will boost reliability and reduce disruption, leading to smoother journeys for passengers.
To allow a key phase of the work to take place, there will be major changes to services on:
- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January
- Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January
- Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February
- Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February
On these dates, trains will terminate at York or Newcastle and some rail replacement services will be available to keep passengers moving. LNER plan to run one train per hour between the two cities using a diversion which will add around an hour to the journey.
Passengers planning on travelling to, from or through Durham, Northallerton, Darlington and Chester-Le-Street are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time and to check their journey before setting off via National Rail or their train operator’s website.
Paul Rutter, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “The work we’re doing in and around Durham in January and February will help boost reliability and provide smoother journeys for passengers.
“To allow the work to take place safely, there will be significant changes to services for five consecutive weekends, so we’d urge passengers to plan ahead via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.”
A statement on behalf of train operators on the East Coast route: “We’re asking people to check before they travel to, from or through Durham station while important upgrade work takes place.
“We’ll be providing rail replacement services wherever we can to keep passengers moving, so our best advice is to plan ahead and allow extra time to compete your journey.”
Ben Simkin, Regional Director for the North East and Scotland at CrossCountry said: “We appreciate our customers’ patience while this important engineering works takes place. The works will improve reliability for customers travelling through the region. In the meantime, there will be replacement buses between York and Newcastle on these weekends and we ask that customers check the website and allow extra time for their journeys.”
Photo credit: Network Rail
