London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has released a short video of the spectacular views of Teesside and the Durham coast as seen from the driver's cab of one of its Azuma trains.
The video is the latest in the award-winning LNER series ‘In the Driver's Seat', which takes viewers on virtual journeys along the East Coast route.
A selection of drivers share their own experiences and point out places of interest, landmarks, and destinations they pass.
The series is available on LNER's social channels and has been widely shared, attracting over 650,000 views of journeys that include London to Yorkshire and Newcastle to Edinburgh.
This episode is even more special as it features a temporary diversionary route due to weekend engineering works along the usual route, which is a route rarely seen by LNER customers. LNER services between York and Newcastle were diverted along the striking Durham coastline on three weekends earlier this year.
LNER Driver Dylan Leonard takes viewers on a southbound journey from Tyneside through his native North East. Among the places featured are Sunderland, Seaham, Easington, Hartlepool, and Yarm, with virtual views from the cab supplemented by stunning drone images of the area.
Dylan Leonard said: “Middlesbrough is LNER's latest destination and I'm one of the team of drivers working on our new weekday services to and from London King's Cross but that's where our route usually ends. The Durham coast diversions were particularly special for me as I have fond memories of this route. As a child, I visited family who lived near the railway line and watched the trains pass by. It isn't often that we take our customers along the Durham coastline to enjoy the views and it's great we've captured them to share in this special short film.”
Love it as a Gricer. But what’s point of high speed trains with all those speed restrictions. Certainly shows need for HS2, 3 & 4 etc.
Watched it and it was very good. Maybe LNER should continue with adding more services including to Scarborough, Hartlepool, Whitby, Grimsby Town, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Bridlington and Harrogate.
i used to live in seaham as a young lad i use too watch the trains go by at dawdon crossing ,imoved to staffordshire in 1954 i joined the railway in 1960 ,i became a signalman in 1965 i am now retired but the vidio brought back good memories, thanks.
What a shame that such an interesting film is spoiled by speeding up and slowing down. Please, LNER, just release it again at proper speed and everyone can enjoy it!