Tees Valley Line Rail User Group

🚆 Rail Update – Hot Weather Service Changes (Northern / LNER / TPE) ☀️

We’ve been advised of temporary changes across multiple operators due to the current heatwave, in place until around Thursday 25th–Friday 26th June.
👉 Tees Valley Line:
✅ No changes planned at present – services are currently expected to run as normal.

👉 Northern:
Some routes elsewhere (mainly around Manchester, Leeds and Lancashire) are running a reduced timetable to help maintain reliable services in high temperatures.

👉 LNER:
⚠️ Hot weather warnings are in place and journeys may be impacted, with advice to check before travelling and consider whether travel is essential on the hottest days. [lner.co.uk]

👉 TransPennine Express (TPE):
⚠️ No planned timetable reductions currently, but short-notice delays or cancellations are possible due to the heat. [tpexpress.co.uk]

💡 Travel advice across all operators:
• Check before you travel
• Allow extra time
• Carry water and stay hydrated
• Travel earlier where possible
• Speak to staff if you need assistance
ℹ️ More info:
Northern: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/hot-weather-travel-advice-june
LNER: https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travel-updates/
TPE: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates

We’ll update if anything changes affecting the Tees Valley Line. 👍

🚆 Rail Update – Hot Weather Service Changes (Northern / London North Eastern Railway / TransPennine Express Trains) ☀️

We’ve been advised of temporary changes across multiple operators due to the current heatwave, in place until around Thursday 25th–Friday 26th June.
👉 Tees Valley Line:
✅ No changes planned at present – services are currently expected to run as normal.

👉 Northern:
Some routes elsewhere (mainly around Manchester, Leeds and Lancashire) are running a reduced timetable to help maintain reliable services in high temperatures.

👉 LNER:
⚠️ Hot weather warnings are in place and journeys may be impacted, with advice to check before travelling and consider whether travel is essential on the hottest days. [lner.co.uk]

👉 TransPennine Express (TPE):
⚠️ No planned timetable reductions currently, but short-notice delays or cancellations are possible due to the heat. [tpexpress.co.uk]

💡 Travel advice across all operators:
• Check before you travel
• Allow extra time
• Carry water and stay hydrated
• Travel earlier where possible
• Speak to staff if you need assistance
ℹ️ More info:
Northern: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/hot-weather-travel-advice-june
LNER: https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travel-updates/
TPE: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates

We’ll update if anything changes affecting the Tees Valley Line. 👍

180 🎯 ...years this month since the Middlesbrough to Redcar line opened 🚂

The Gentlemen on the train were fed and watered at 3pm in Redcar's Red Lion Hotel 🥘🍺

No mention of any ladies at the time!

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the incident near Bedford

Everyone at Tees Valley Line Rail User Group is deeply saddened by the news following yesterday evening’s train collision near Bedford.

Our thoughts are first and foremost with the family, friends and colleagues of the railway employee who sadly lost their life, those who have been injured, and all passengers and staff affected.

We would also like to recognise the work of the emergency services, railway colleagues and everyone involved in responding to such a difficult incident.

The railway is a close community — from passengers and volunteers through to frontline staff, signallers, engineers, control teams and train crews — and moments like this are felt across the whole industry.

It is important that investigations are now allowed to establish exactly what happened, and our thoughts remain with everyone impacted.

Graham contractors signal the start of the £17m National Railway Museum Central Hall project.

Graham signals start of £17m railway museum rebuild New Central Hall project will unite buildings at York National Railway Museum

An article from BBC News South East on the nationalisation of Britain's railways ⬇️

SWR train campaigners criticise GB Rail nationalisation ambition Campaigners from SWR Watch say passengers expect better performance from publicly owned services.

Engineering work in the Sunderland area will affect train and Metro services over several weekends in June/July.

Click on the links below or visit your local staffed ticket office for more information.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/changing-trains/
https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/updates?open=t_planned-works

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿

An extensive programme of improvement work delivering a range of benefits for passengers in the Sunderland area will affect journeys over four weekends.

Network Rail will carry out engineering work at Sunderland station and various nearby sites on the weekends of 27-28 June, 4-5 July, 11-12 July and 18-19 July.

The work includes:

• 664 metres of track renewal through both platforms at Sunderland station for smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers

• Complete renewal of eight sets of points – the sections of track allowing trains to switch between lines – to improve reliability of this important equipment. These switches and crossings allow Nexus Metro services to access the main line and allow operators to access the sidings where trains reverse when they start or terminate at Sunderland. The work is made more complex due to the points being close to Sunderland station platforms and between two tunnel bores.

• Renewing point heating equipment, which warms the rails to prevent snow and ice accumulating, helping to keep the equipment working and train services running in cold weather

• Renewal of 373 metres of the drainage system at Brockley Whins to help prevent flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, supporting safer, more reliable services for passengers.

• Road resurfacing at Boldon Lane and Tile Shed level crossings to provide a smoother ride for road users and reduce wear on the rail infrastructure.

• Installation of new components in a set of points at Boldon to keep the asset in working order.

• Removal of overgrown vegetation which is encroaching on the railway and threatening to obscure two signals, which would cause delays.

The work means that on 27-28 June, 4-5 July and 11-12 July:

• Grand Central services between Sunderland and London King’s Cross will operate between Seaham/Hartlepool and London King’s Cross only, with rail replacement buses operating between Sunderland and Seaham/Hartlepool. On Sundays, the first train to London will start from Eaglescliffe at 09.24, with a replacement bus running from Sunderland at 07.40 to Eaglescliffe to connect with the train.

• Northern will have rail replacement buses between Newcastle and Horden. An amended train service will run between Carlisle and Newcastle, and between Seaham and Middlesbrough.

• No Metro trains will run between Brockley Whins and South Hylton. A replacement bus service – number 901 – will run in both directions. Trains will be running elsewhere on the system but may not run to the usual timetable.

And on 18-19 July:

• Grand Central will have rail replacement buses between Sunderland and Eaglescliffe. Trains will run between Eaglescliffe and London King’s Cross.

• Northern will operate rail replacement buses between Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER, said: “This is a significant programme of upgrades over four weekends to improve the reliability and resilience of the railway for passengers in the Sunderland area.

“ This includes renewing track, points and drainage, as well as improvements at level crossings and other locations. We know this work will disrupt journeys and we’re sorry for any inconvenience but these weekends of intensive engineering work will deliver significant benefits for passengers.”

A spokesperson for the train operating companies said: “We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep people on the move during the weekends when this important engineering work takes place. We’re encouraging customers to plan ahead and check before they travel, as replacement buses will be in operation and journey times may be longer.”

Plan ahead and check all parts of your journey using the National Rail Journey Planner or with your train operator before travelling.

Passengers using rail replacement services are reminded to only bring luggage they can carry comfortably and be mindful of transfer times between train and bus/coach.

Great British Railways update released by the Government yesterday ⬇️

Great British Railways update released by Government An amendment to the Railways Bill introduced on Wednesday, 10th June, has enshrined Great British Railways (GBR) in public ownership.