(07 Mar 2023, 5:06 pm)Michael wrote Looks like a new express service between Newcastle – Hartlepool – Middlesborough - only stopping at Thornaby, Hartlepool & Sunderland only - every 2 hours.

North East

Newcastle – Hartlepool – Middlesborough (Durham Coast) Introduction of an additional semi-fast service between Middlesbrough and Newcastle (anticipated in the summer) once platform infrastructure work by Network Rail is complete at Hartlepool station.

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/timetablechange

(07 Mar 2023, 5:06 pm)Michael wrote Looks like a new express service between Newcastle – Hartlepool – Middlesborough - only stopping at  Thornaby, Hartlepool & Sunderland only - every 2 hours.

North East

Newcastle – Hartlepool – Middlesborough (Durham Coast) Introduction of an additional semi-fast service between Middlesbrough and Newcastle (anticipated in the summer) once platform infrastructure work by Network Rail is complete at Hartlepool station. 

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/timetablechange

(24 Apr 2023, 7:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/middlesbrough-newcastle-train-become-more-26754849?fbclid=IwAR0vC37mqxzGNpJvagjqABKagTmh2HIMZOED1alEmb9Zr3y4yLMnjZFLnmQ

Further developments on this

(20 Nov 2023, 12:52 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It's still really slow, isn't it. There was me under the impression that the train was faster than driving.

(20 Nov 2023, 5:47 pm)deanmachine wrote The line speed is only between 50-70mph with the majority of the route being about 60mph, it's a longer distance than the A19 so it is a bit slower. An upgrade for 100mph line speed, with 100mph capable trains would help beat a car, but I can't see the investment being spent, it's definitely possible on that line though.

(20 Nov 2023, 8:31 pm)Storx wrote Not worth it currently imo, be better spending the money towards Ferryhill and doing a Newcastle - Chester Le Street - Durham - Ferryhill - Thornaby - Middlesbrough service which was always the plan originally but they never got the paths. There should be paths now since the COVID cuts though. Not sure why it never happened.

There should be the a station for Roseworth aswell with a shuttle to the hospital. It's mental how many houses there are round there with a train line running through and no stop. Just sums the British attitude to railways pretty much. Same with Norton around the corner.

(20 Nov 2023, 9:02 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think the Northern Connect thing was ever really going to work with the current stock we have in the North East, even Express Sprinters only top out at 90mph, it would've been a right pain to try and path something that slow along the ECML every hour.

(20 Nov 2023, 9:02 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think the Northern Connect thing was ever really going to work with the current stock we have in the North East, even Express Sprinters only top out at 90mph, it would've been a right pain to try and path something that slow along the ECML every hour.

(20 Nov 2023, 9:08 pm)Storx wrote Yeah agreed, hopefully it might be the sort of route to look at for electric battery vehicles, when the tech comes in. Use the wires from Newcastle to Ferryhill and then run on battery for the short'ish section from Ferryhill down to Middlesbrough.

The Morpeth / Ashington services are the same and are going to be self contained in the future as far as I'm aware aswell, the extra acceleration on those would help on the sections on the ECML. Would help with going green aswell, rather than having diesel trains running under wires.

(20 Nov 2023, 9:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote I've been racking my brains to reckon up what the ECML was like when Sprinters were on the Transpennine Services.
Without checking, I don't think the paths were too much different to what they are now.

(13 Jan 2024, 2:23 am)Unber43 wrote Are Northern getting some more 156's as ive seen a few photos in Newcastle Train Station in the East Midlands Railway Livery and the EMR

(13 Jan 2024, 2:23 am)Unber43 wrote Are Northern getting some more 156's as ive seen a few photos in Newcastle Train Station in the East Midlands Railway Livery and the EMR

(14 Jan 2024, 10:37 pm)Unber43 wrote So does this mean, this is for all/most trains to be dualled up?

(14 Jan 2024, 10:37 pm)Unber43 wrote So does this mean, this is for all/most trains to be dualled up?

(11 May 2024, 6:30 am)Andreos1 wrote Very rare 6 car set about to rattle off from Boro to Saltburn (and presumably return).
No idea how long they are going to stay like that mind.

Looks like a cancelled and delayed set make up some of it. No idea where the 3rd came from


Edit: 156479, 156443 and another unidentified 156

(11 May 2024, 7:44 am)Ianthegoon wrote Did they actually all head off together, or were they split?  RealTimeTrains suggests they were split; however, that site relies on taking "official" data, which might not be what actually happened on the ground.

(02 Jun 2024, 9:18 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Sorry what's a class2

(01 Jun 2024, 11:09 pm)N391OTY wrote RealTimeTrains shows an hourly service from Newcastle today (Sunday 2nd June) to Ashington departing at xx54 from NCL. Class 2 stopping at all stations apart from Manors. Could be just line-proving runs as I don't think all the stations are finished yet !

Will have to view at some point to see if anything is actually running.

(02 Jun 2024, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote It's just the paths for the line, came in with the timetable change today. They're not running. It's how everyone found out the timetable a few month back though

Train timetables only change twice a year.

See https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/timetable-changes/ for more info.

(02 Jun 2024, 11:41 pm)N391OTY wrote As far as I can see, this is the first time paths for these services have appeared in RTT, so hopefully it means that they are expected to begin during the current timetable, in other words, before mid-Dec 2024. Not holding my breath though.