A major milestone has been reached in the £ 140 million transformation of Darlington Station with the completed construction of the new Eastern Concourse building.
Construction of the new concourse building has been delivered on time and on budget by the Tees Valley Mayor and Tees Valley Combined Authority.
The concourse structure completion was marked at an event attended by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen on Thursday.
The building will now transfer to Network Rail, paving the way for the next phase of development, which will see it fitted out with shop units and amenities and ready to welcome passengers in late 2025.
It is the latest landmark in the massive redevelopment of Darlington Station which also includes the addition of two new platforms, a new multi-storey car park for more than 650 cars, a transport interchange and an improved Western entrance.
The new Eastern concourse will connect through to the historic station via a new elevated walkway.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is a major moment in the redevelopment of Darlington Station and we are proud to be handing over the Eastern Concourse Building right on time.
“This transformative project will provide Darlington passengers with the station they deserve while helping to boost the number of services we’re able to provide across our region and securing national rail links to and from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“We look forward to progress continuing at pace and for the full transformation project being finished next year as we celebrate 200 years of the railways.”
The redevelopment of Darlington Station is being delivered in a partnership with the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, Network Rail, LNER and Darlington Borough Council.
It has been designed to mould the historic grandeur of the Grade-II listed station with modern facilities for passengers.
The project seeks to unlock capacity constraints by reducing the need for trains - particularly local and southbound services - to cross over the East Coast Main Line to enter the existing station, as well as encouraging and supporting economic growth in the area.
Work to construct the new concourse building was carried out on behalf of Tees Valley Combined Authority by Willmott Dixon.
BAM is the contractor on the next fit out phase while Willmott Dixon is continuing work to the adjacent multi-storey car park and transport interchange.
Work to pave the way for the new walkway’s installation is well underway – with the wider station overhaul on track for completion before the end of 2025.
Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority has contributed £43million to the overhaul while Network Rail and the Department for Transport have put £96million towards the project.
Luke Durston, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: “This is a real ‘handing of the baton’ moment in the £140million transformation of Darlington station. We thank Tees Valley Combined Authority for the best start possible in our joint race to bring a better train service to the region and build state-of-the-art station facilities for passengers.
“We’ll be working closely with LNER, Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority throughout 2025 while we fit-out the Eastern Gateway Building, build the new platforms, fully accessible link-bridge and install railway lines and signalling systems with the aim of bringing them into service by the end of next year.”
Cllr Steve Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It’s great to see the station transformation project coming to life. With the completion of the work next year when we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of passenger railways, it's a timely tribute the events of 1825. I look forward to seeing the work continue to take shape.”
Steve Wilson, Head of Stations at LNER, said: “This project will give Darlington a station it can be proud of. It’s particularly fitting that the work being carried out to transform Darlington Station is due to complete towards the end of 2025, when a nationwide celebration is taking place to mark 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 – a journey that truly changed the world.”
Images: Tees Valley Combined Authority
