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Services on the East Coast Main Line were severely disrupted on Monday 11 August 2025 after urgent inspections revealed damage to a railway bridge south of Chester-le-Street in County Durham. LNER issued a 'do not travel' warning for passengers travelling to Edinburgh, following the discovery overnight of structural faults.

Single-line working is in place under strict speed restrictions. Rail-replacement coaches are operating where possible, with ticket extensions, mutual acceptance and refund options available.

Chester-le-Street Bridge Damage Causes

Late on Sunday 10 August, engineers identified structural damage to a bridge just south of Chester-le-Street. Inspections carried out into the early hours of Monday confirmed the bridge was unsafe for full use, prompting emergency repairs and single-line working.

National Rail confirmed one track has reopened under tight restrictions to keep traffic moving, but disruption remains severe. The incident occurred on the East Coast Main Line, a vital north–south rail artery. Services were affected from first light on Monday and are expected to remain in disarray for the rest of the day.

Which Train Services to Edinburgh Are Affected

Long-distance LNER trains operating between London King's Cross and Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have been cancelled or severely delayed. LNER advised passengers travelling on these routes to avoid travel unless essential.

Other operators serving the corridor, including Lumo, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Northern, are also experiencing knock-on delays, diversions or capacity issues, although impact levels vary by service provider.

LNER 'Do Not Travel' Warning and Passenger Guidance

LNER's 'do not travel' warning applies specifically to those heading northbound from King's Cross towards Newcastle and Edinburgh. Travellers are urged to check live updates before their journey via National Rail's real-time Journey Planner or individual operator websites. Any journeys that must proceed require significantly more time allowance due to delays and reduced capacity.

LNER Ticket Validity Extensions, Refunds and Delay

To assist passengers affected by the disruption, ticket validity has been extended in certain cases—for example, tickets dated 10 August remain valid on 11 August on select services. National Rail also confirmed mutual ticket acceptance across multiple operators, including LNER, Northern, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express, on specified routes.

Those whose travel has been cancelled or who choose not to travel can apply for Delay Repay compensation or request refunds through their original operator's customer service portals.

Rail-Replacement Coaches

Rail-replacement coaches are being deployed along key hubs including York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle to help fill gaps where feasible. Passengers should note that coach services are subject to limited capacity and may result in substantially longer journey times. Operators emphasise the importance of checking timings and boarding points in advance.

Single-Line Working on East Coast Main Line Cuts Capacity

The bridge in question lies on a critical bottleneck of the East Coast Main Line just north of Durham. With only one track in operation under speed restrictions, the number of available train paths is significantly reduced. This constraint cuts north–south throughput to below half the usual capacity, leading to widespread cancellations and delays.

Timeline of the Bridge Repair and Train Cancellations

  • Overnight into Monday: engineers confirm structural damage and begin emergency works.
  • Early Monday morning: single-line reopened under restrictions; LNER issues 'do not travel' alert.
  • Morning to midday: services remain cancelled or delayed; ticket extensions and coach replacements activated.
  • Rest of Monday: engineers continue repairs; disruption remains fluid and updates are ongoing.

Unconfirmed Details on Cause of Bridge Damage

At present, the exact cause of the bridge damage has not been publicly disclosed. There is also no confirmed timeline for full restoration of normal service capacity. Passengers and media are awaiting further announcements from National Rail and LNER regarding the outcome of the emergency repair works.

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