A man has been arrested after Darlington Station was evacuated this afternoon following reports of a suspected suspicious package on a train.
Police were called to reports of the potentially suspicious package on a train shortly before 1.30pm today (December 8)
Passengers were evacuated from the train while officers moved in to carry out their investigations.
Read more: LIVE: Heavy police presence at Darlington station after 'suspicious package' found - updates
Officers arrested a 19-year-old passenger in connection with the incident, and they have been taken into police custody.
The suspected suspicious package is believed to have been a hoax and the station has now reopened.
One passenger travelling on the Edinburgh to Kings Cross train told The Northern Echo: "When we arrived into Darlington we were told the train in front of us had hit something.
“Then all of a sudden there was an urgent announcement telling everyone to evacuate the train immediately and leave belongings behind.”
A Durham Police spokesperson added: “Officers attended and it was deemed necessary to evacuate the train and the station while enquiries were carried out.
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“Durham Constabulary and British Transport Police would like to thank those affected for their co-operation and patience whilst we dealt with this incident”
In a separate incident further down the line a person was hit by a train at Northallerton Station shortly before 1pm.
The British Transport Police confirmed that a person was pronounced dead at the scene and that the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement the force said: “Officers were called to Northallerton station at 12.57pm today (December 8) following reports of a casualty on the tracks.
"Paramedics also attended, and sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."
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