- Must visit
Preston Park Museum & Grounds
Local history museum in Preston Park with recreated Victorian streets, period interiors and family-friendly displays on Teesside life.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£1
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£2
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
21 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
22 m
Trains on 18 Sept
3
Distance
16 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Darlington to Thornaby is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Darlington to Thornaby will cost around £2 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £1.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 3 trains from Darlington to Thornaby, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 16 km distance in an average of 22 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 21 m .
The slowest trains will take 23 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Darlington to Thornaby among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £3 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 52m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £3, while a train costs an average of £5.
Distance: 16 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£5 Average Price | £3 Average Price Cheapest | £4 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
52m Average total duration Fastest 22m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 39m Average total duration 1h 9m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Darlington to Thornaby:
A coach is £2 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Darlington to Thornaby costing on average £5.
Other travel options to Thornaby take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 9m.
You'll arrive about 3m sooner (22m by train vs 25m by car). Tickets start at around £5 compared to roughly £4 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Darlington to Thornaby trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5:21 Darlington | 0h23 | 5:44 Thornaby | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 15:00 Darlington | 0h23 | 15:23 Thornaby | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 22:40 Darlington | 0h22 | 23:02 Thornaby | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Darlington to Thornaby run on average 7 times per day, taking around 22m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £2 if you book in advance.
There are 7 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:12, the last at 23:55. The fastest train covers the 16 km distance in 21m.
Distance 16 km |
Average train duration 22m |
Cheapest ticket price £2 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 7 |
Fastest train 21m |
First train 5:12 |
Last train 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 3 days |
Discover the best of Thornaby — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Thornaby trip today.
Local history museum in Preston Park with recreated Victorian streets, period interiors and family-friendly displays on Teesside life.
Museum on the River Tees exploring Captain Cook, maritime history and local heritage through interactive galleries in central Middlesbrough.
Contemporary art gallery in Middlesbrough showing changing exhibitions, installations and public events in a bold modern building.
Large riverside park with woodland walks, formal gardens, a museum and family facilities, making it a top green escape near Thornaby.
Waterside leisure area with a lake, walking routes and adventure facilities, popular for relaxed outdoor time close to the town centre.
Historic high street in nearby Yarm with Georgian frontages, independent shops and a distinctive riverside market-town character.
A Teesside staple of seasoned beef and pork mince baked in pastry. Long tied to local bakers and everyday North East lunches.
Spiced fruit bun from nearby Yorkshire, commonly eaten toasted with butter. A familiar regional tea-time treat across North East England.
Rich tart made with curd cheese, eggs and nutmeg. Traditional in the wider Yorkshire area and well known around Thornaby.
Popular steakhouse and grill known for generous portions and a lively casual setting suitable for families and groups.
Established country house hotel restaurant for afternoon tea, British classics and a calmer, more refined atmosphere.
Well-known pub restaurant serving grills, roasts and classic British dishes in a relaxed waterside setting.
Moderate for the UK. Dining and everyday costs are reasonable, while hotel choice is limited locally, so visitors may pay more if staying in nearby larger towns.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is not included. Round up for taxis and small café bills if service is good.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Darlington to Thornaby by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Thornaby, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Darlington to Thornaby trains use the Darlington to Thornaby station pair. Use this guide to compare Darlington and Thornaby train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Darlington has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Darlington.
ATMs are available at Darlington.
Ticket office support is available at Darlington.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Darlington: Parking, WC.
Available at Darlington: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Darlington: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible public telephones: text phones are available and staff are on hand to assist as required due to no low level phones, Accessible taxis: Generally available but advance booking recommended, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
North Road is 1 km from Darlington city centre. Public transport options include:
North Road has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Lost and Found Office and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at North Road.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at North Road: Parking.
Available at North Road: Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at North Road: Staff help available: No, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Category C Station, please note there are no tactile pavings at this station - Station is unstaffed there are 2 entrances to the staton, one is via steep steps 11 in total, the other is via a stepped ramps and about 40-50 metres in length, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Thornaby is 2 km from Thornaby city centre. Public transport options include:
Thornaby has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Thornaby.
Wi-Fi is available at Thornaby.
Ticket office support is available at Thornaby.
Available at Thornaby: Parking, WC.
Available at Thornaby: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Thornaby: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Step free access is provided from the station entrance to the platform. This station is partially staffed. The station staffing hours are: Monday to Saturday: 05:45 - 19:45 Sunday: 08:45 - 17:30 This station is Category A. Station staff can provide assistance throughout the station, and with boarding and alighting the train. Customers requiring assistance should make themselves known to station staff no less than 20 minutes prior to the departure time of their train. Assistance can be requested in advance by contacting the TransPennine Express Assisted Travel Team on 0800 107 2149 (18001 prefix for TextRelay). Outside of staffed station hours, assistance to board and alight the train can be provided by the Conductor. The conductor is usually positioned at the rear of the train. Customers requiring assistance to navigate through the station when the station is unstaffed are requested to contact the TransPennine Express Assisted Travel Team on 0800 107 2149 (18001 prefix for TextRelay) to arrange alternative transport to the closest station where assistance can be provided, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: During Staff Help times as shown above, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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