A major milestone has been reached in the £140million
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.”
Simon Bywater, construction manager at Willmott Dixon, said:
“We're enormously proud to have worked alongside Tees Valley
Combined Authority to deliver this modern and vibrant gateway to
Darlington.
“Our local team have completed more than 25 projects for the
people of the Tees Valley, and Darlington Station Gateway
showcases our ongoing commitment to changing lives and creating
opportunities for local people.
“In addition to new local jobs, apprenticeships and training
weeks, we have invested more than £14million with local supply
chain businesses making this a project built for the people of
Darlington by the people of Darlington.”
Concourse Factfile
- 1,150 Tonnes of British Steel used in construction
- 114,423 hours and 41 minutes of work to complete
- 901 staff members employed on project
- 17.5 metres high
