05.06.18
£3m pledged for Darlington Station project
The progress of renovation plans for Darlington Station has been given a boost after the local council has committed £3m to finance the proposals.
After a meeting of the Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet, the cash was agreed to take the proposals from the planning stages to a fully-fledged design case to propose to government.
The project will see a major transformation of the station and reconfiguration of rail track to ensure it can accommodate new high-speed services on the East Coast Main Line, in addition to greater capacity on the local rail line.
It is hoped the move will create faster, more frequent and better quality services across the Tees Valley, County Durham, and Yorkshire, and stronger freight connections from Teesport.
Cllr Bill Dixon, combined authority cabinet lead for transport, said: “Darlington station is not just vital to the prosperity and future success of the town itself, but also to the wider Tees Valley. It is currently a major gateway to our region and plays a key role in our local transport network.
“In 2025 we will be in the spot light as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, and I want people to visit a station that is fit for the 21st century”
During a meeting of the authority last week, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen argued a further £25m should be ringfenced to help upgrade the station at a later date. The funds would be taken from the £59m Transforming Cities Fund committed by the government during last November’s Autumn Budget.
Mayor Houchen said he was committed to delivering on plans to make Darlington “a station to be proud of.”
“The benefits that we’d see from this landmark project can’t be understated. It would impact on the lives of each and every person in the Tees Valley, while positioning ourselves as an even more accessible destination for business and tourism,” he added.
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