The huge improvement of Eaglescliffe railway station takes a step forward as new images reveal the proposed new western entrance.

Eaglescliffe railway stations redevelopment has been long-awaited and is being carried out by a partnership of Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, Network Rail and Northern.

The project will see the current ramps which give access to platforms replaced with a brand new pedestrian footbridge and lifts to provide increased accessibility for the station. Once the new footbridge is in place it will allow access to the station from the west of Durham Lane Industrial Estate where the site of the station’s new car park has been proposed. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council who is also a partner in the project have put forward a planning application for this site and plans to provide approximately 120 spaces right next to the western footbridge.

With planning approved, the first stage of work would commence during the early part of summer 2022 with work being undertaken to improve the roads on Durham Lane and Cleasby Way to provide access for the car park. Alongside this work, Network Rail is working with the ongoing development of the footbridge which will be part of the second stage of the redevelopment and is set for completion during 2023.

Eaglescliffe railway station connects the region to local and national destinations via a half-hourly service between Darlington and Saltburn, also hourly connections to Bishop Auckland, and Grand Central‘s route to London which runs five times a day.

Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority are backing the scheme with £8.5 million of funding with further funding and support from Stockton on Tees Borough Council and Network Rail.

Mayor Houchen said: “2022 is our year of construction, this doesn’t just mean spades in the ground at Teesworks in Redcar or our amazing local airport, it means work getting underway on critical projects across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. I’m not wasting any time in pushing forward plans that will improve the lives of people right across our region and this milestone on the long-overdue redevelopment of Eaglescliffe Station comes just a few short months after I signed off £1.6million to help Network Rail kick-start the design and development of its new footbridge.

“Eaglescliffe is an important station, connecting people locally and with a popular service to London, but using that station can be hugely inconvenient for local people. Passengers either have to drive for ten minutes to get around to the correct side of the station or get a connection from Allens West, which is just unacceptable. This investment will make travelling from the station quicker, simpler and more straight forward and the improved connectivity will prove a huge draw for businesses looking to base themselves at Durham Lane Industrial Estate.

“Right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool we’re investing huge amounts of money to transform our railway stations and when these projects are complete, local people will have the rail infrastructure they have been crying out for and deserve.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “Last year the Council purchased a 26-hectare site at Durham Lane in Eaglescliffe to help protect and develop what’s a key employment site in the Borough – and part of the land purchased will be used as the new station car park.

“We’re in a really strong position to attract more businesses to Eaglescliffe, especially when you consider it is already home to lots of great firms and businesses like Tata Global Beverages, Returnable Packaging Services and Nifco.

“The improved transport links and accessibility to Eaglescliffe Station will be key to help ensure more businesses are drawn to the area.”

Matt Rice, North & East Route Director for Network Rail, said: “The new bridge at Eaglescliffe will not only make it much easier for those with limited mobility to use the station independently, but it will also provide a better experience for passengers with bikes, pushchairs or heavy luggage.

“We’re working with our partners at Tees Valley Combined Authority, Northern and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to deliver a series of rail upgrades that will see journeys enhanced throughout the region, as well as better connecting people to opportunities across the country.”

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. These improvements to Eaglescliffe station will make a real difference to the passenger experience and will be very much welcomed.”