Darlington Line Works

[Serathor]

Hi Apologies if this has been asked before, I searched briefly but could not find anything.

Does anyone know what is happening at Darlington station, I drove over the bridge on Haughton Road this morning, and briefly saw what appears the track (highlighted in red area) dug up.
As I was driving I did not get a proper look it's a shame if more track is being taken away, is it to make way for more commercial/ housing development or part of the talked about station upgrade?

Many Thanks in advance.

 

[wallan]

Hi Apologies if this has been asked before, I searched briefly but could not find anything.

Does anyone know what is happening at Darlington station, I drove over the bridge on Haughton Road this morning, and briefly saw what appears the track (highlighted in red area) dug up.
As I was driving I did not get a proper look it's a shame if more track is being taken away, is it to make way for more commercial/ housing development or part of the talked about station upgrade?

Many Thanks in advance.

View attachment 86416

Extending the Siding,s / Run Round to accomodate longer freight liners ?

 

[SargeNpton]

Is it connected to this?...

Darlington station improvements

Tees Valley Combined Authority, in partnership with the Council, Network Rail and LNER, is planning a comprehensive improvement project at Darlington Station.

www.darlington.gov.uk

Darlington is a congested location on the railway network with no capacity to accommodate more trains. To enable the growth in train services in the coming years, improvements are required. Work has identified that a new station is required on the Neasham Road side of the east coast mainline to accommodate both local and national services. The new station will require new platforms, a new station building, parking and an interchange for passengers. There are also improvements planned within the existing station and at the other entrances.

On the 27 January 2020 an outline business case was sent to Government requesting £80m to make the project a reality. A total of £25million had previously been earmarked by the Mayor and Tees Valley Combined Authority to help deliver the vision for the station. On 4 February, plans for its use were put to Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet for approval. Work is now progressing on developing the detailed proposals and additional land around the station is required to allow the development to take place.

 

[Darandio]

Extending the Siding,s / Run Round to accomodate longer freight liners ?

I'm not sure that is likely, it's only really been used in recent years to store hoppers when traffic dried up.

Is it connected to this?...

Darlington station improvements

Tees Valley Combined Authority, in partnership with the Council, Network Rail and LNER, is planning a comprehensive improvement project at Darlington Station.

www.darlington.gov.uk

Doubtful, it's half a mile from the station.

 

[SargeNpton]

Half a mile away is not that far if they need to re-jig the station approach for the extra platforms.

 

[Darandio]

Indeed, but work isn't scheduled to start on that until 2023. You can also guarantee Ben Houchen would have been there to kick it all off with a golden spade and camera crew.

 

[Anvil1984]

I'm not sure that is likely, it's only really been used in recent years to store hoppers when traffic dried up.

There is work / are plans to lengthen the sidings, there's this on Network Rail site A NCG12020EAST044 Notification Letter web.pdf 149 KB (windows.net)

 

[Darandio]

There is work / are plans to lengthen the sidings, there's this on Network Rail site A NCG12020EAST044 Notification Letter web.pdf 149 KB (windows.net)

Very surprised at that.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Very surprised at that.

Why surprised? This is a 'quick win', 'low-hanging fruit' job. Because of gauge restrictions through Yarm Tunnel most intermodal trains to/from Teesport have to run round at Darlington. The restricted length of the loop constrains train length.

 

[Darandio]

Why surprised? This is a 'quick win', 'low-hanging fruit' job. Because of gauge restrictions through Yarm Tunnel most intermodal trains to/from Teesport have to run round at Darlington. The restricted length of the loop contains train length.

Surprised because I didn't realise that was the case now, it certainly wasn't always that way. The only restriction I was aware of previously was the tunnel at Longlands meaning container trains came off at Northallerton East and joined the main at Northallerton High. Is this because of new/different wagons used now?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Surprised because I didn't realise that was the case now, it certainly wasn't always that way. The only restriction I was aware of previously was the tunnel at Longlands meaning container trains came off at Northallerton East and joined the main at Northallerton High. Is this because of new/different wagons used now?

Presumably because of more modern types of slightly taller and wider containers and swap-bodies, W10 and W12 gauge on specific types of wagon.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

It’s being relaid with new track, ballast and sleepers. Some of the stuff that has been ripped up was in pretty poor condition to be fair. Wether the new formation takes future station delevopment into account I cannot say tho.

 

[wallan]

Has the work been completed

 

[Serathor]

Has the work been completed

I drove past this morning, and from what I could see. There where no maintenance crew. So I would say it has been.

 

[wallan]

I drove past this morning, and from what I could see. There where no maintenance crew. So I would say it has been.

Thank You