Platforms for Darlington and a bus station for Bishop Auckland

Thursday 18th June 2026 It was interesting to visit Darlington and Bishop Auckland last week and take a look at new public transport infrastructure which opened in both towns last month. First up let’s look at the multi-million pound project that’s seen a major expansion of Darlington’s historic railway station. It’s been described as a “transformational project” and indeed, at £140 million you’d rightly expect bells, whistles and gold plating for what is basically a new eastern entrance and concourse together with a new island platform – one side for terminating services from further east (Saltburn and Middlesbrough) and one side for southbound services on the East Coast Main Line and, of course in a world of supposedly encouraging “seamless integrated public transport”, not forgetting a huge 650 space multi storey car park. The sheer scale of the new development has to be seen to be believed. Bells, whistles and gold plating are to be found in abundance. During my visit it just…