A historic Grade II-listed railway bridge in Darlington is to be repaired and repainted at the end of this month in a £16,000 refurbishment.

The bridge, on North Road in Darlington, will be repainted by Network Rail in a holly green colour to make it look better and brighter for years to come.

For 166 years, trains have been using the bridge from the time of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was the world’s first passenger railway to use steam trains, and is a key piece of the town’s rich railway heritage.

So that the renovations can be carried out safely, this section of North Road will be closed overnight to cars, cyclists, and pedestrians from Monday, 28th March until Saturday, 2nd April.

The North Road bridge is the third and final bridge to be renovated in a trio of upgrades. In 2020, Network Rail refurbished two historic railway bridges in Yarm Road, Darlington as part of a £60,000 total investment.

The work is being completed before the major celebrations that are being planned for the line’s 200-year anniversary in 2025 and will help the bridge look its best for this major milestone.

Sarah Reid, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “The railway bridge on North Road has been a feature of Darlington since 1856. This important restoration work will improve the condition of the historically important structure and provide an enhanced gateway for the whole North Road area.

“We’ve worked closely with Darlington Borough Council to deliver a series of bridge improvements which celebrate the town’s rich railway heritage – and I’d like to thank people for bearing with us as we complete this final stage.”

Peter Gibson, Member of Parliament for Darlington, said: “It is fantastic to see much-needed improvements to our local railway bridges progress.

“I have been working closely with Network Rail to ensure that the historic importance of these bridges is taken into consideration when restoration works are undertaken.

“It was great to join the Network Rail’s team on the Yarm Road bridge recently where I was able to see first-hand the condition of the bridge and the enhancements after the much-needed work had been completed.”

Leader of Darlington Borough Council, Cllr Heather Scott, said: “We are delighted to be working with Network Rail on this project to improve the appearance of integral parts of our railway routes. The restoration and repaint works are making a great difference for the benefit of our community and visitors to the town.”