Durham Coast Line
Encyclopedia
The Durham Coast Line (DCL) is the name given to the railway line which links Newcastle upon Tyne
with Middlesbrough
, via Sunderland and Hartlepool
. The services are operated by Northern Rail
and the majority continue on from Newcastle to the MetroCentre
and a few to Carlisle
.
The lines which make up the route were originally part of the North Eastern Railway
, which became the London and North Eastern Railway
at the 1923 Grouping
. The DCL comes under the aegis of the Tees Valley Rail Strategy, whose aims are to enhance services in the region. Under that scheme, Phase 1 undertaken on DCL resulted in an hourly service between Newcastle and Hartlepool from 2000; a half-hourly service was later to come into operation. Plans for Phase 2, including opening new stations, has been on hold since the Strategic Rail Authority
came into being, when funding for the scheme was brought to a virtual standstill.
A halt at Greatham
was downgraded to a partial service during the early 1980s and was closed on the 24th November 1991.
The section between the junction just south of Sunderland and Pelaw Junction (just south of Pelaw Metro station
) is the only Network Rail
route electrified
at 1500V DC overhead
for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro
, which shares this section of the line.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, via Sunderland and Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
. The services are operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
and the majority continue on from Newcastle to the MetroCentre
MetroCentre railway station
MetroCentre railway station is a railway station that serves the MetroCentre shopping and leisure complex in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. It is located on the Tyne Valley Line from Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, and is managed by Northern Rail....
and a few to Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
.
The lines which make up the route were originally part of the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
, which became the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
at the 1923 Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
. The DCL comes under the aegis of the Tees Valley Rail Strategy, whose aims are to enhance services in the region. Under that scheme, Phase 1 undertaken on DCL resulted in an hourly service between Newcastle and Hartlepool from 2000; a half-hourly service was later to come into operation. Plans for Phase 2, including opening new stations, has been on hold since the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
came into being, when funding for the scheme was brought to a virtual standstill.
A halt at Greatham
Greatham, County Durham
Greatham is a village and civil parish in the borough of Hartlepool and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. Greatham village is located approximately three miles south of Hartlepool town centre.- History :...
was downgraded to a partial service during the early 1980s and was closed on the 24th November 1991.
The section between the junction just south of Sunderland and Pelaw Junction (just south of Pelaw Metro station
Pelaw Metro station
Pelaw Metro station serves the Pelaw area of Gateshead, England. Situated on the Tyne and Wear Metro system, it is at the point where the Yellow and Green lines diverge, with the former continuing to South Shields and the latter over tracks shared with mainline trains to Sunderland and then...
) is the only Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
route electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 1500V DC overhead
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
, which shares this section of the line.
Route
- MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough railway stationMiddlesbrough railway station serves the large town of Middlesbrough in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The station is managed by First TransPennine Express and has two platforms...
- ThornabyThornaby railway stationThornaby railway station serves the town of Thornaby-on-Tees and due to having better connections than Stockton railway station also much of Stockton-on-Tees. It is located in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
- StocktonStockton railway stationStockton railway station serves the town of Stockton-on-Tees, within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. The railway station is located on the Durham Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all of the stations passenger services...
- BillinghamBillingham railway stationBillingham railway station serves the town of Billingham, within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England...
- Seaton CarewSeaton Carew railway stationSeaton Carew railway station serves the village of Seaton Carew, within the borough of Hartlepool and is close to the Ceremonial County of County Durham, England...
- HartlepoolHartlepool railway stationHartlepool railway station serves the town of Hartlepool within the borough of Hartlepool and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. The railway station is located on the Durham Coast Line north of Middlesbrough. The station is operated and served by Northern Rail...
- SeahamSeaham railway stationSeaham Railway Station serves the town of Seaham in County Durham, England. The railway station is located on the Durham Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail, which provides all of the station's passenger services....
- Sunderland
- Heworth
- NewcastleNewcastle Central stationNewcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...