Rail station regeneration projects in the north-east continue apace

The new South Shields Interchange

The new South Shields Interchange

The Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Council have launched a transformational vision for Darlington Station. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen set out his vision for Darlington 2025 which include remodelling the station and creating dedicated platforms for local connections and future high speed services.  The ambitious programme will enhance rail connections across the North, on the East Coast Main Line, as an integral part of the HS2 network, and across the Tees Valley.

Benefits of the plans are set to include:

• A £130 million boost to the economy annually, amounting to up to £1 billion overall

• More than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs created

• 98,500 square metres of commercial space

• 1,500 new homes

• 1:29 journey time from Darlington to Birmingham, a reduction of 52 minutes

• 1:52 journey time from Darlington to London, a reduction of 28 minutes

• 1:10 journey time from Darlington to Manchester, a reduction of 45 minutes

Darlington 2025 positions Darlington as a crucial part of the new HS2 network, able to accommodate new high speed trains once they join the East Coast Main Line.  It sets out new plans for the reconfiguration of the rail infrastructure around the station, to unlock improvements to local rail services, leading to faster, more frequent and better quality services across the Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire, and better freight connections from Teesport.

Rail regeneration for the Tees region

There are currently lots of rail station regeneration projects on Teesside, a priority for the Mayor, including Darlington, Middlesbrough, a rail freight strategy and regeneration across South Shields thanks to major infrastructure upgrades.

A new Transport Interchange is now open in South Shields, a £21 million project that brings together a modern bus station and a relocated Metro station.

George Mansbridge, Corporate Director, Regeneration and Environment, South Tyneside Council will be speaking about South Shields’ suburban networks and wider town centre regeneration at Rail Station & Property in Birmingham on 19 March  

The interchange forms Phase Two of the £100 million South Shields 365 regeneration masterplan, and welcomed its one millionth passenger in November 2019.

The landmark building, which brought bus and Metro services under the same roof in a modern new environment in the centre of South Shields, is well on its way to attracting the anticipated 7.5m passengers a year.

Councillor Iain Malcolm, leader of  South Tyneside Council told local press: ‘We’re tremendously proud of this new facility. First impressions count and the new interchange really does provide a smart, high quality arrival point into the town. This is going to create a much more efficient and pleasurable experience for residents and visitors to South Tyneside.

‘Phase One of South Shields 365, The Word, has resulted in an additional 450,000 visitors a year coming to the town centre so providing first class public transport facilities and improved connectivity is vital.’