Darlington station improvements
A project that will transform the areas around Darlington station is underway.
This project will also see improvements to the existing station building.
The project is being led by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Network Rail.
The work will make the station easier to use for people on foot, cyclists and public transport.
A new platform and station building, a new footbridge and a multi storey car park will form part of the scheme.
It will also pave the way for improved rail services for the town and wider area.
Demolition work has already begun on the Neasham Road side of the development.
The main construction work will start in Spring 2023 and continue until Spring 2025.
As work continues, please take note and follow any diversion and safety signs around the site areas.
Please check out our highways page for road and footpath closures as work progresses.
We hope you find this information useful and will agree, this is an exciting project for the town and will, when complete, much improve this area and the existing station.
Darlington is a key station on the East Coast Mainline.
Destinations include:
- London,
- Newcastle,
- Edinburgh; and
- access to the Tees Valley.
It is also a very busy station and improvements are needed to accommodate more trains.
East gateway (Neasham Road) proposals
- A new station building with platforms serving local and national lines
- A multi-storey car park
- Transport interchange and cycle facilities
- Landscaped pedestrianised areas
- New footbridge into the existing station building
- Improvements to Neasham Road
The final design will look like
View looking southwest (from Neasham Road). From the interchange towards the new station and multi-storey car park:
View looking southwest towards the new station entrance:
View looking north-west from Neasham Road. Showing the multi-storey car park in the foreground and interchange beyond.
View looking southeast from above the rail lines - showing the new station building.
Plan of the east gateway [pdf document].
The new platform will allow for more trains and faster journey times.
The new station will offer modern facilities and information services.
The transport interchange will make it easier to access the station.
It will also help to connect to other transport such as local buses.
There will also be cycle lanes and shelters.
The multi-storey car park will be built above the new station building.
There will be secure parking for over 600 cars with disabled bays and electric car charging points.
West side (Bank Top) plans
- New road layout to improve pedestrian safety
- A pedestrianised concourse in front of the building entrance
- Redesign of the entrance to make a safer car-free entrance to the historic station
View east from Victoria Road to the portico entrance.
Plan of the west gateway [pdf document]
The plans for the west side will offer a complete transformation of this area.
The sharp right hand bend at the top of Victoria Road will be “smoothed out”. This will remove the blind corner and make it safer for pedestrians and motorists. Wider pavements at the entrance will also improve safety.
There will be no vehicle access to the main station portico area. Instead, there will be improved drop off and pick-up points and new bus stops.
Works on site have begun with demolitions and enabling works on the east side of the station.
Construction works will begin in December 2022 and continue to the end of 2024. This is subject to funding.
The opening will link with the 2025 Rail Heritage Celebrations & Programme
| Milestone | Anticipated timeline |
|---|---|
| Creation of Temp Car Park (on Former Cattle Market Site) | October 2022 to May 2023 |
| Demolition Works (East) | October 2022 to Summer 2023 |
| Construction of New Station, MSCP (Multi-storey car park) and Transport Interchange (East) | May 2023 to Dec 2024 |
| Existing Station and Rail Enhancements | Summer 2023 to Summer 2025 |
| Highways Works on Neasham Road | Winter 2024/25 |
| West Gateway Improvements | 2023 – 2024 (programme to be confirmed) |
| Opening of new station facilities and the upgraded existing station | Spring/Summer 2025 |
Site Plan of the key parts of the project:
As work continues, please take note and follow any diversion and safety signs around the site areas.
Please check out our highways page for road and footpath closures as work progresses.
Regular news and updates will feature in
- One Darlington magazine
- on TVCA’s, Network Rail’s and the council’s social media feeds
- Project pages on TVCA and Network Rail websites