05.01.17
Durham station to close for Azuma platform extension
A Durham station platform is to be extended to allow Virgin’s longer Azuma trains to travel through the station.
Network Rail engineers will make platform one 40m longer so that all carriages of the Azuma trains fit into the station when they are introduced on the east coast route in 2018.
The Azumas are capable of reaching 125mph in around four-and-a-half minutes, making them Virgin’s fastest trains ever.
Aidan Talbott, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “The introduction of the Azuma trains is an exciting time for the railway and the work at Durham is a vital step towards preparing the rail network for the longer trains that will bring even greater benefits for passengers travelling on the East Coast Main Line.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this enhancement work causes.”
The engineering work will take place between 12:00 on Saturday and 12:00 Sunday for the first three weekends of January, necessitating the closure of the station.
During this period, Virgin will run replacement bus services between Durham, Darlington and Newcastle, and journeys with other operators may take longer than usual.
The A691 Framwellgate Peth to the north of the station will also close, with temporary traffic lights in place.
A Virgin Trains spokesperson said the trains would “transform the customer experience” by “creating more capacity and faster and more comfortable journeys”.
(Image c. Virgin)
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