Darlington And Bishop Auckland – 26th June 2025
My second trip out from Darlington was to Bishop Auckland station and I took these pictures on the way up and down.
Note.
- Bishop Auckland station is a one-platform station, but all the other stations seem to be two-platform stations.
- The railway museum; Locomotion seems to be within walking distance of Shildon station.
- There is a short section of electrified track, that Hitachi use to test trains and get them to the East Coast Main Line.
The stations seemed tidy and clean, but more step-free access is needed.
I have some further thoughts.
The Location Of Hitachi Rail
This Google Map shows the location of Hitachi Rail.
Note.
- Heighington station on the Tees Valley Line is marked by the red arrow.
- Hitachi Rail is the large building in the South-West corner of the map.
- There appear to be electrified sidings to the North of the factory, which have a connection to the Tees Valley Line.
From the map it looks efficient and well-designed.
Could The Services On The Branch Be Run By Battery-Electric Trains?
I don’t think there would be too many problems.
- Bishop Auckland and Darlington is only twelve miles.
- Both platforms at Darlington used by Tees Valley Line services are electrified.
- The single platform at Bishop Auckland station could be fitted with one of Siemens’s Rail Charging Convertors.
- Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe might like some more formal electrification between Newton Aycliffe and Darlington stations.
- An electrified Tees Valley Line would surely be useful to Hitachi for showing the capabilities of battery-electric trains.
This would be a very easy line to run using battery-electric trains.
The Anonymous Widower 