Arriva have won the new Northern franchise to commence 1st April 2016 and are to provide 281 new air conditioned coaches to replace Pacers by 2019. Commitments for the Durham Coastline include
- A half-hourly service Middlesbrough to Newcastle
- 30 trains a day each way to include 10 fast ‘Connect’ services operated by refurbished Class 158 Sprinters
- Earlier and later trains each day