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Written by Rich Mackin - 16 Jan 2004
last update by Rich Mackin - 18 Mar 2004
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Location notes
Situated on the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle.
Railway type and traffic
This station sees regular East Coast, Virgin Cross Country and Arriva Trains Northern traffic. From 1 February 2004 it will be served by Transpennine Express. It hosts mail traffic and a large number of daily freight services. While the outside parts of the station have no platform monitors, there are regular services throughout the day and late into the evening. A Jarvis (soon to become Network Rail) depot close to the station often sees visiting tampers and other track machines. Network Rail's New Measurement Train "flying banana" HST visits every two weeks, passing north on every other Monday morning and returning early afternoon, though times can vary massively. New trains from Bombardier Transportation's Derby and Wakefield works sometimes make test runs to Darlington and back. Railtours pass the station almost every Saturday during the spring/summer/early autumn months. On a typical day, expect Classes 60, 66, 91, 142, 144, 156, 158, 220 and 221.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Darlington Bank Top
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Darlington is quite a busy town (population approx 50,000), though the station is in a quieter area.
Road directions
Leaving the A1 at Scotch Corner, turn onto the A66 and head for Darlington. Once you reach the town, the railway station is clearly signposted from most major roads. If approaching from the north, be sure not to end up at Darlington North Road station instead!

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Darlington Bank Top map co-ordinates
Parking
The station has car parking facilities, but with *very* limited space, and they cost £5 an hour. Cars parked in the street outside the station's main entrance, Park Lane, will probably earn a parking ticket as the street is only to be used for pick-ups and drop-offs for the station.
Public transport
The railway station is served by number 21/26/27/28/X54 Arriva services and 25/26 Stagecoach services.

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Amenities
The station has toilets, a cafe, a branch of WH Smith and a small snack shop. The nearby Hogans pub, is not recommended.
Accommodation
Near the station, in Victoria Road, is the Coachman hotel and Dalesman Bed and Breakfast.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Darlington Bank Top

Googly map
Streetmap links
Darlington Bank Top general view map
Darlington Bank Top close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Darlington Bank Top



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Railway Gen Group
North East Gen
Photographic notes
The best vantage points are at the southern ends of Platform 1/2 and 3/4a, where there will be very few people. This is also the best point for freight trains, most of which bypass the former North Eastern Railway trainshed. It can take a few minutes to get between the southern ends of Platforms 1/2 and 3/4a as the crossing point is at the north end of these platforms.
Southbound freight trains often stop at the signals visible from Platform 1, waiting for a path to continue. They may also call at the signal further down the line, beyond the extent of the platforms. A wooden fence can be found across the end of Platform 1/2,which may affect the view.
At the south end of the station are two bay platforms, 2 and 3. During the day there's usually Class 142s and 156s parked up here, but Class 144 and 158 DMUs also visit occasionally. New diesel units from Bombardier Transportation also park in Platform 3 when they visit on test runs. At the north end of the station, at the end of Platform 4, there is a car park from which trains can also be seen. To get here, walk north through the station past the taxi rank, then left into the car park before the long sloping road out of the station's north exit. The leading locomotives of northbound trains stand next to the car park, and good views are also possible by the fence at the far north.
Afternoon is the best time to photograph, as you'll have the sun at your back for most passing trains, though in the evening any trains stopping at Platform 4/4a will be difficult to photograph due to the low sun silhouetting them. Non-stopping trains (mostly GNER, and the odd Virgin XC) pass behind the trainshed, and the east wall will block out most of the noise and almost entirely hide the approach of southbound, so they may sneak up on you with barely seconds notice. A relatively clear view down the ECML will give you plenty of notice of northbound trains.
Links to photographs at this location

RailwayScene - Website
Transport Images - Darlington


General views - All photographs © Rich Mackin unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north


Fig 1 - Looking north

Taken from Platform 2/1, looking back toward the station, at Platform 1 where southbound trains normally call.

Fig 2 - Looking south


Fig 2 - Looking south

From Platform 3/4a

Fig 3 - Looking east


Fig 3 - Looking east

Taken from Platform 1, looking toward the loop lines.

Fig 4 - Looking north


Fig 4 - Looking north

Taken from the end of Platform 4a/3, looking toward the station.

Fig 5 - Looking south



Fig 5 - Looking south

From the car park at the end of platform 4.

Fig 6 - north east



Fig 6 - north east

Towards the platfrom 1 approach.

Fig 7 - Looking north



Fig 7 - Looking north

From the car park.

Fig 8 - Looking north



Fig 8 - Looking north

The bay platforms.

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