Carabao Cup Final: LNER announces major engineering work causing issues for Newcastle United fans

An amended timetable has been put in place for trains to and from Newcastle over February and March due to rail works in the North East section of the East Coast Main Line.

The year kicked off with two weekends of work further south which caused delays on the line, with work now starting further north.

The LNER website claims: “Over a period of 6 consecutive weekends (8 and 9 February*, 15 and 16 February, 22 and 23 February, 1 and 2 March, 8 and 9 March, 15 and 16 March), LNER services to and from Scotland and Newcastle will use a diversionary route via the Durham Coast, extending journey times by up to 80 minutes.

“There will be no trains to or from Darlington or Durham over this period, although rail replacement coaches will operate throughout to ensure that customers can complete their journeys.”

The final of these weekends coincides with the weekend of the Carabao Cup Final when thousands of Newcastle United fans are expected to head to London from the North East for the Sunday, March 16 fixture.

The club reached the final following a two legged win over Arsenal with fans now given five weeks to arrange travel plans before the match at Wembley Stadium, in what will be the second appearance in the fixture in three years.

A reduced service will run between London and Newcastle while northbound services will also depart London King's Cross up to 20 minutes earlier than usual.

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No trains will run to or from Darlington or Durham with rail replacement coaches set to operate each way between Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, Northallerton and York.

There will also be no LNER services to or from Lincoln, Harrogate or Hull. Customers are advised to use our journey planner to find alternative services.

Full information can be found on the LNER website.