Darlington’s railway heritage met its future on Friday, 15 May 2026, as the station celebrated the completion of a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
Guests were given a first look at the upgraded facilities and Great British Railways branding ahead of the station’s official opening on Sunday, 17 May.
The event featured the Azuma train ‘Darlington’, named during last year’s Railway 200 celebrations, arriving at the new Platform 5 and taking guests on an inaugural journey to York.
The project was delivered over two years by London North Eastern Railway, Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Darlington Borough Council, and the Department for Transport.
The station has seen the addition of two new platforms (5 and 6), along with a spacious eastern concourse, and a fully accessible bridge connecting to the Grade II-listed station building.
Platform 5 will serve services linking Darlington with London King’s Cross and destinations across the East Coast Main Line.
Platform 6 displayed the steam locomotive Tornado, built at Darlington Works, reflecting the town’s railway heritage.
Facilities include retail outlets, customer information screens with British Sign Language interpretation, a London North Eastern Railway Travel Centre, and a 600-space multi-storey car park with EV charging points.
Lifts, escalators, stairways, and staff assistance improve accessibility, while new cycle routes and secure bike shelters support sustainable travel.
Live performances at the launch included Durham Music Service, singer-songwriter Hayley McKay, and folk musician Billy Mitchell, linked to the North East charity Sunday for Sammy.
From 17 May, passengers are advised to check journey details and allow extra time, as trains may now depart from different platforms.
“Welcoming customers into the new Darlington Station on Sunday will be a significant moment. More than 200 years after the railway story began in Darlington, this transformation marks an exciting new chapter for the town and its people.
“Darlington is now the fastest‑growing station on the LNER network, with more and more customers choosing to travel from here each year.”
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER.
Responses
Nice to see a new southbound platform 5 at Darlington station now officially opened to allow LNER trains heading down towards London KX to use the new platform 5. And to free up the bottleneck on the ECML.