Because of engineering work on the East Coast main line including platform extension at Durham to accommodate new Hitachi IEP trains, Virgin East Coast trains have been diverted along the coast during three weekends in January. These occur between noon Saturday and noon Sunday, with the last diversions scheduled for 22nd.

The next Open Meeting of Coastliners will take place at 7.15pm on Thursday 26 January 2017 in the Reading Room of The Athenaeum Club, Church Street, Hartlepool.  The room will be available to us shortly after 6.30pm and we will be welcome to use the bar until soon after 10.30pm. Visitors welcome.

TOC’s and Transport for the North have recently initiated various consultations.  This meeting is your chance to hear about what’s going on and to engage in discussion about several issues.  In spite of the short notice, please come if you can.  Items on the agenda include …

The proposed creation of a Community Rail Partnership along the Durham Coast including the next NERMU (North East Rail Management Unit) meeting in Newcastle at 10am on 15 February.

News of Railfuture North East’s next Open Meeting, in Newcastle, during the evening of 16 February.

The need for us to update our list of Aims & Aspirations, together with a synopsis of our activities and achievements, prior to the AGM of Railfuture North East to be held during the afternoon of 25 March.

The process surrounding the Tees Valley Combined Authority consultation, Connect 2026.

News of imminent workshops in connection with the Transport for the North’s Strategic Transport Plan.