Construction work has started on £1.1 million development at the Weardale Railway in County Durham, which will also boost tourism to Bishop Auckland and the local area.

Known as the Durham Dales Gateway project, work is taking place near Bishop Auckland West railway station to create new visitor parking facilities, and to improve access to the Durham Dales and Bishop Auckland via the Weardale Railway.

Included in the development are 88 car parking spaces, six electric vehicle charging points, five new cycle racks, and a brand-new ticketing system.

It will enable the railway to accommodate increased visitor numbers, provide training, employment, and learning opportunities, and add significantly to the area’s economy.

Work started in June by demolishing the site’s Escomb Road annexe building, which had stood derelict for seven years and was previously part of Bishop Auckland Hospital.

£900,000 worth of funding for the development has come from the Stronger Towns Fund as part of £53 million Levelling Up funding awarded to Bishop Auckland by the government.

In March 2020, the Weardale Railway was saved from going into administration when it was purchased by The Auckland Project.

After a programme of inspections, network assessments, maintenance, repairs to the infrastructure, and improvements to the trains, the line has been brought back into operation with its long-term future secure.

Auckland Project attractions include the former home of the Prince Bishops of Durham at Auckland Castle, its Gardens and the Deer Park, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery, Auckland Tower visitor centre, Weardale Railway and the Faith Museum.

The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity, and as well as a visitor destination, it works with the local community to deliver a wide range of formal and informal learning for adults and young people, creates jobs and apprenticeships and, both directly and indirectly, supports sustainable living.

Using the arts, culture and heritage, it works with local people to fuel long-term social and economic change to make the town a better place to live, work and visit.

“We’re delighted that new life is being injected into this derelict space, with help from the Stronger Towns Fund.  The Weardale Railway heritage line into Bishop Auckland provides a huge opportunity for the cultural and economic regeneration of the town, enabling an important connection to everything the town, and the Dales, has to offer.
 
“We hope that this development will bring more visitors to the southern end of the high street and that people holidaying in the region will find Bishop Auckland that much easier to access. All of which, of course, will benefit the local and regional economy.”

Edward Perry, Chief Executive Officer at The Auckland Project