Major disruption is expected on the East Coast Main Line after an electrical fault between Durham and Darlington today (Sunday, November 5). 

A failure with the electrical system between Durham and Darlington - thought to be a power cut or a blown fuse -   this morning saw trains halted. 

Though the fault has now been fixed, serious residual delays are expected well into the afternoon, with cancellations persisting until at least 3pm. 

Rail replacement transport is currently in operation between Newcastle and York. Northern Rail has also requested rail replacement buses to run between Middlesbrough and Bishop Auckland in both directions. 

Routes affected include: 

  • CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street / Leeds / Plymouth / Sheffield
  • LNER services between Aberdeen / Edinburgh / Newcastle and London Kings Cross, also between Edinburgh and Doncaster
  • Lumo services between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross
  • Northern services between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn, also between Darlington and Whitby
  • TransPennine Express services between Newcastle and Liverpool Lime Street / York

A much-reduced LNER service is now able to run through the affected area. Tickets are being accepted on alternative routes, such as TransPennine Express between Edinburgh and York in both directions, CrossCountry and Northern via any reasonable route.

Saltburn to Bishop Auckland services are currently unable to run between Darlington and Bishop Auckland, in both directions, though services are now able to run between Saltburn and Darlington, in both directions.

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A rail replacement bus is also in operation for this route, with the Bishop Auckland to Darlington (E-Travel) and Darlington to Bishop Auckland (E-Travel) both being used. 

Journey times will be extended by 40 minutes whilst travelling by rail replacement transport.

TransPennine Express services are currently terminating at and starting back up from either York or Leeds, owing to the signal disruption.