(07 Jan 2026, 7:47 pm)Unber43 wrote I would rather have a 30 min frequency than hourly. 

Maybe more customers will make them upgrade (northumberland line would be as popular at an hour?) 

Perhaps maybe some 3car 170 could make their way up here and be used on the Durham Coast, and Northumberland and 4 car 158 on Hexham to Carlise or vice versa

The Durham Coast is already 2 tph - the limited stop service was increased to hourly in December and additionally calls at Stockton (only Billingham, Seaton Carew, Horden and Seaham that are still 1 tph). 

And what do you propose to run on the very busy Harrogate line services if you rob the 170's from there? There's a national shortage of old diesel rolling stock - the only real options are more clapped out old 150's from Wales (which if due an overhaul I doubt would be financially viable to take on) or their 158's which were meant to come off lease but this now might not happen until 2029.

This problem with a lack of capacity on Northern is not limited to the North East, but until they start getting their new trains in 2030+ I can't see anything changing substantially.