UK Rail and Trains

Campaigners are rallying to save a nearly 200-year-old train station that helped launch the age of steam-powered passenger travel.

Built in 1826 on the Stockton and Darlington railway line - the world’s first passenger railway to use steam trains - Heighington station in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is “possibly the world’s first railway station,” according to Historic England.

It has now been added to the 2024 Heritage at Risk Register, which lists nearly 5,000 endangered historical sites over concerns about neglect and decay. Campaigners hope to revive Heighington’s legacy and safeguard its place in railway history.

New research by the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway has confirmed that the station was operational from 1827, making it the oldest known station, surpassing Liverpool Road station in Manchester, previously thought to be the oldest, dating from 1830.

This discovery led Historic England to elevate the station’s listing from Grade II to Grade II*, marking it as a building of “particularly important interest” - a classification held by only 5.8 per cent of listed buildings.

Rail union RMT, today published survey results revealing Trainline's destructive practice of ripping off passengers, misleading the general public, and undermining the integrity of the railways. The survey, which asked more than 2,600 rail workers about their experiences, uncovered a range of serious problems with Trainline's ticketing system — bogus tickets, excessive pricing, and confusing fare options. The results show that Trainline does not deliver best-value fares and has put profits ahead of its commitment to deliver a public service. Trainline is set to release its half-year results today, following a September update revealing £2bn in ticket sales and a 17% revenue increase to £106m in the first half of the year. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said “Trainline is a profiteering machine that’s ripping off passengers and unnecessarily costing taxpayers. “Their model relies on hidden fees, deceptive ticket options, and overpriced fares – all designed to boost shareholder profits at the public’s expense.”