North East England Station code TBY
Thornaby
Thornaby by train: a Teesside stop for Stockton-on-Tees, the Tees Barrage and Preston Park. One direct LNER train each way on weekdays.
- Around 2 hours 50 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 3 things to do
The Infinity Bridge, a footbridge over the Tees about 0.4 miles from Thornaby station as the crow flies.Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Thornaby
Thornaby-on-Tees sits on the south bank of the River Tees, facing Stockton across the water. The whole area is bound up with railway history: the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, served Stockton from its opening in 1825.
Today the station is a convenient way into Stockton and the Tees Valley. The Tees Barrage, with its white water course and riverside paths, is close by, and Preston Park Museum – with its recreated Victorian street – is a short ride away.
LNER serves Thornaby with a single direct train each way on weekdays, as part of its Middlesbrough service; at other times it is a quick local connection from York or Darlington.
Journey
TBY- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 2 hours 50 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Middlesbrough stop 6 of 7 | York | Middlesbrough |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Direct only on the one weekday LNER train each way (King's Cross 18.45, and 07.42 southbound, in the May–December 2026 timetable). Otherwise change at York for TransPennine Express or at Darlington for Northern.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1 October 1882 (as South Stockton; renamed Thornaby in 1892)
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- TransPennine Express
- Passengers a year
- 660,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The line through the station is the Stockton and Darlington Railway's 1830 extension to its new coal port at Middlesbrough, and Thornaby is the nearest working station to the original S&DR station at Stockton.
- The Victorian station was famous for its carved stonework: local masons competed to produce 104 different designs, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of Rail Facts and Feats before the buildings were demolished in 1981.
- After a £500,000 rebuild that brought back staff and waiting rooms, Thornaby won a National Station of the Year award in 2003.
Photos of Thornaby
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The Infinity Bridge, a footbridge over the Tees about 0.4 miles from Thornaby station as the crow flies. Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Thornaby's platforms, rebuilt and restaffed in a 2003 refurbishment. Photo: mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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The Tees Barrage between Stockton and Thornaby, with the Infinity Bridge upstream. Photo: Flosy91, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arriving at Thornaby
The station sits off Mandale Road in Thornaby, with the ticket office and waiting area in the building by the car park; both platforms are reached step-free. There is a taxi rank across the road. Stockton town centre is about a mile away across the Tees, Middlesbrough about three miles, and the Tees Barrage and Infinity Bridge are both within walking distance.
The station is in Thornaby, about a mile from Stockton town centre and around three miles from Middlesbrough (straight-line distances). It is staffed, with a ticket office, waiting room and car park.
Getting around
Frequent local trains run to Middlesbrough, Stockton and Darlington. The Tees Barrage is within walking distance for most people; for Preston Park you will want a bus or taxi.
Other train services and connections
- Northern (Tees Valley line to Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Saltburn; Durham Coast line to Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle)
- TransPennine Express (York, Leeds and Manchester Airport; Middlesbrough and Redcar)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free from the entrance to both platforms (National Rail category A)
- StaffMon–Sat 05:45–19:00, Sun 08:15–15:45
- Ticket officeIn the station building; Mon–Sat 05:45–19:00, Sun 08:15–15:45
- Ticket machineAvailable for buying and collecting tickets
- Help pointsOn both platforms, with induction loops
- ToiletUnisex toilet with accessible and baby-changing facilities, open while the ticket office is
- Waiting areaHeated seating in the booking hall during staffed hours
- RefreshmentsTJ's Express Shack in the waiting room; Mon–Sat 05:45–18:00, Sun 08:15–15:30
- Wi-fiAvailable
- Left luggageNone
- Car park58 spaces, operated by TransPennine Express
- Cycle storage34 sheltered spaces on the approach road, plus 3 council lockers in the car park
- TaxisTaxi rank reached by a controlled crossing
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
The railway reached this bank of the Tees early: in December 1830 the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened an extension along the south side of the river to new coal staithes at Middlesbrough. The North Eastern Railway added a station here, South Stockton, on 1 October 1882, and renamed it Thornaby on 1 November 1892 when the new borough of Thornaby-on-Tees was created. Its brick and stone buildings were known for their carved decoration and for an ornate glazed entrance.
The station declined after nationalisation. Staff were withdrawn in the early 1970s, vandalism followed, and the buildings were demolished in December 1981, leaving little more than shelters. Local campaigners fought off attempts to rename it, and in 2003 a £500,000 refurbishment brought back staff, a ticket office and heated waiting space, earning a National Station of the Year award. Today it is a busy stop on the Tees Valley line, with TransPennine Express, Northern and a weekday LNER train to London.
A half-day around Thornaby
River walks and bridges on the Tees, a short stroll from the platforms.
-
Morning
The Tees Barrage
Walk down to the Tees Barrage to watch the white-water course or take the riverside paths.
-
Late morning
Over the Infinity Bridge
Follow the river to the Infinity Bridge and cross into Stockton, whose town centre is about a mile from the station.
-
Afternoon
Preston Park Museum
Take a bus or taxi to Preston Park Museum and its walk-through Victorian street.
Things to do near Thornaby
Tees Barrage
The barrage controls the river level and is home to a 300-metre white water course and a large high-ropes climbing course, with riverside walks for a gentler visit. Activities are for ages eight and over.
Preston Park Museum & Grounds
A museum in parkland by the Tees, best known for its walk-through Victorian street, with galleries, changing exhibitions and riverside paths.
Stockton Globe
A Grade II listed Art Deco theatre in Stockton town centre, now hosting shows and concerts.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Day trips from Thornaby
-
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
A seaside town laid out by Henry Pease in Victorian times, with a pier and a cliff tramway.
Northern trains take 31–35 minutes, twice an hour.
-
Darlington
Home of Hopetown, a railway attraction on the 1825 Stockton and Darlington route, based in the old North Road station.
Northern trains take 22–24 minutes, twice an hour.
Annual events
-
Early August (2027 dates to be announced)
Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF)
A free outdoor arts festival of street theatre, circus, dance and music in Stockton town centre, first held in 1988.
Official website for Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) (opens in a new tab)
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Thornaby
Stockton and Thornaby have a modest choice of hotels; Middlesbrough is a short train ride away if you need more options.
Tips for your visit
- The direct LNER service runs Monday to Friday only – at weekends plan to change at York or Darlington.
- Preston Park Museum charges for admission; check its website for current opening days.
Questions about Thornaby station
How far is Stockton town centre from Thornaby station?
About a mile as the crow flies, across the River Tees. Middlesbrough is around three miles away and a few minutes by train.
Is Thornaby station step-free?
Yes. National Rail rates Thornaby step-free category A, with step-free routes from the entrance to both platforms.
Are there direct LNER trains from Thornaby to London?
Only one each way, Monday to Friday. At other times change at York for TransPennine Express or at Darlington for Northern.
Is there parking at Thornaby station?
Yes, a 58-space car park run by TransPennine Express. The daily rate was £4.50 when checked in September 2026.
Are there toilets at the station?
Yes, a unisex toilet with accessible and baby-changing facilities in the station building, open while the ticket office is staffed.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornaby_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornaby-on-Tees
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton-on-Tees
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton_and_Darlington_Railway
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- tbiwwc.com/
- prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/
- stocktonglobe.co.uk/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tees_Barrage
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton_Globe
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/tby/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity_Bridge
- sirf.co.uk/what-is-sirf/
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Travelling to Thornaby?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.