ECML station served by LNER, XC, Transpennine Express and Northern Rail. Passenger trains are mainly, Hitachi 800's and Voyagers/Super Voyagers, Sometimes a XC HST,) Northern now use 156, 158 with occasional DBS, FLHH & GBRF 66's on freight, mainly intermodal.
Recently, the Sinfin tanks are often 56 hauled, 68's occasionally work LE from Kingmoor to York & 70's mainly limited to the odd engineers working early morning and during the night.
Network Rail measurement train stables alternate Mondays and Sundays.
A fair amount of ECML freight misses Darlington, routed via Northalerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland .
Most spotters stand on the south end of platforn 1 to get views of all four platforms and the station avoiding lines.
Large, [Ticket Barrier-ed] staffed station, cafe, shop and carparks (staff usually friendly and will readily let you on if you explain what you want to do. Or buy a return ticket to North Road Station)
Centrally located. Well signposted from the town's Ring Road and Town Centre but station car parks are gruesomely expensive.
Visitors may take a short trip up the Bishop Auckland branch line to North Road Station (& Museum) the world's oldest, and the NRM Locomotion Museum at Shildon.