LNER Trains Delays: Services to Edinburgh Cancelled After Bridge Damage in County Durham
Passengers faced severe disruption on Sunday as urgent repair works forced the cancellation of LNER trains to Edinburgh, following damage to a railway bridge near Chester-le-Street.
The issue was spotted overnight, triggering an emergency response from engineers. The bridge, just south of Chester-le-Street, was ruled unsafe for high-speed travel. The decision brought several key services to a halt, with replacement buses drafted in at short notice.
For travellers on the London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley route, the impact was immediate. Delays stretched beyond two hours during the busy morning peak. Journeys became slow, crowded and frustrating.
While LNER trains delays caused the biggest headaches, other rail companies weren’t spared. CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, and Lumo all reported major timetable issues. Services between Doncaster and Leeds were also hit, adding to the chaos.
TransPennine Express urged passengers already in Edinburgh or Newcastle to consider the West Coast Main Line instead. It’s longer, but far more reliable at the moment.
Sunday didn’t stop at one incident. Engineering works between Newcastle and Morpeth overran their schedule. A points failure between Berwick and Dunbar added to the morning’s troubles.
“You can still travel, but we highly advise deferring your journey if you can. Rail replacement coaches have been sourced to run between York, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Edinburgh.”
Although the points issue was later fixed, the network struggled to recover. Delays lingered well into the afternoon.
To keep passengers moving, LNER brought in buses linking York, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Edinburgh. But travel times ballooned, and with festival season in full swing in the Scottish capital, demand was fierce.
Seats on both the trains and the coaches quickly filled. Passengers were told to check live updates before travelling.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. With Edinburgh’s festival season drawing thousands, hotel rooms were scarce and last-minute changes costly. Many travellers missed events or arrived hours later than planned.
Business travellers fared no better. Meetings were postponed, cancelled or pushed online as arrival times became impossible to guarantee.
Network Rail teams worked into the night on repairs, with hopes of restoring a normal timetable by Monday morning. Yet, officials warned of possible speed restrictions and minor delays during early services.
The incident has once again raised questions about the resilience of the UK’s rail network, particularly on the East Coast Mainline. Calls for greater investment are growing, with the LNER trains to the Edinburgh route seen as too vital to face such regular disruptions.
Travel Advice:
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Monitor LNER’s website for real-time updates.
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Consider alternative routes, including the West Coast Mainline.
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Allow extra time and expect last-minute changes.
