Edinburgh Fringe performers amongst thousands affected by rail chaos as 'urgent repairs' shut lines
Services between London and Edinburgh were called off on Sunday
Last updated 10th Aug 2025
Performers trying to get to the Fringe were amongst thousands of people caught up in travel chaos, as LNER trains between London and Edinburgh were cancelled.
The rail operator posted a message to its social media warning customers: “do not travel”, later amending it to recommend people defer travel to a different time, with services set to be affected until the end of the day on Sunday 10 August.
The operator says a number of issues on the line between Darlington and Edinburgh caused the disruption, including urgent repairs to a bridge between Newcastle and Darlington, and points failure between Berick Upon Tweed and Dunbar.
Tickets for affected services can be used on any alternative CrossCountry services, any LNER between Edinburgh and Doncaster, Northern services between Newcastle and Darlington or TransPennine Express trains between Newcastle and Leeds
"It's been pure chaos"
Rail replacement transport has also been put in place in some areas.
Members of a London performance group, New Stagers, were among the crowds looking for alternative routes to Edinburgh, saying they’re facing a “race against time” to make it to the Scottish capital before their final dress rehearsal on Sunday night.
The group’s run of six performances of a Love Island style A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set to begin at Venue 45 on Monday, with the cast and crew hoping to get a whole team rehearsal in beforehand.
The group’s Nellie Gawne spoke to Cool FM: “We’re a cast and crew of 19 and 11 of us are travelling up today.
“Everyone’s on different trains, we’re coming from all different areas of the country, some people were already in the north, someone was in Newcastle and has been stranded since about 8.30 this morning.
"We are determined to get there"
“It’s been pure chaos, but we are determined to get there.”
She continued: “Our dress and tech rehearsals are this evening as well, and it’s really important we have those rehearsals because our first show is tomorrow night, and it’ll be the first time that we’ve practiced in the space, on the stage, so it really is a race against time at the moment.”
She added: “If we don’t have the tech and dress rehearsals tonight, then we’re not going to have that time together as a cast to rehearse before we actually start our shows, which is terrifying.”
Speaking about the show, she said: “It’s got all the original Shakespearean language with some Love Island lingo popped in there.”
Director Alice Collins came up with the concept for the show, Nellie told Cool FM: “She saw the similarities between A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love Island, and the characters within it, and how they fall in love and fall out of love so quickly.”
LNER advice
Tickets originally for affected rail services along the East Coast Main Line can be used up to and including Tuesday 12 August.
On its website LNER said: “Network Rail have advised that a bridge south of Chester-le-Street has been damaged overnight.
“Staff, including structural engineers, are currently on site.
“One line has reopened, which has allowed trains to run in both directions.
“Full repairs will take place at the end of service today.
“Additionally, there is a points failure between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar.
“Staff are on site working to rectify the fault but at present trains in both directions are having to run at a reduced speed.”