Train Derailed And Rererailed Near Darlington Without Crew Realising

Rail investigators are to publish a safety digest after a passenger train derailed and then returned to the rails near Darlington earlier this year.

The incident occurred at around 13:19 on 31 January 2026 at Hopetown Junction, close to Darlington North Road station in County Durham. The service had been travelling from the Darlington North Road Goods Loop line, crossing over at Hopetown Junction before joining the Bishop Auckland single line towards Shildon.

According to initial findings, the train crew were unaware that any problem had occurred and continued the journey as planned. It was only on arrival at Shildon that the driver was alerted to the derailment.

Subsequent inspections of both the train and the track infrastructure revealed evidence that several wheels had left the rails and then rererailed within the length of the crossover at Hopetown Junction.

A preliminary examination has now been completed into the circumstances of the incident. After reviewing the evidence gathered so far, investigators have decided to issue a safety digest rather than open a full investigation report. The document is expected to be published on the organisation’s website in the coming weeks.

Image: RAIB