Darlington Station, located in the town of the same name in north-east England, County Durham, was officially opened on 15 May.
The station was inaugurated by Rail Minister Lord Hendy, alongside LNER Managing Director David Horne, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, Network Rail East Coast Route Director Paul Rutter and Councillor Stephen Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council. The launch event marked the completion of one of the most significant station investments on the East Coast Main Line in recent years, with guests given an exclusive first look at the station’s impressive new facilities and Great British Railways branding.
“The redevelopment of Darlington Station, together with the new platforms, is an excellent example of the future of Britain’s railways. Backed by GBP 113 million (EUR 132 million) in Government funding, this investment will boost economic growth, jobs and housing across Tees Valley and the North East, while paving the way for stronger northern connections, with Darlington becoming a vital gateway to the region,” said the Rail Minister.
Alongside the construction of two new platforms, the station transformation includes a spacious eastern concourse and a fully accessible bridge linking to the existing station building.
Passengers now benefit from a range of modern facilities, including new retail units, customer information screens with British Sign Language interpretation, an LNER Travel Centre and a multi-storey car park with more than 600 spaces, including accessible bays and electric vehicle charging points. New cycle routes and secure cycle storage facilities have also been introduced.
To improve accessibility throughout the station, several lifts, escalators and access routes have been installed, while LNER staff will continue to provide assistance to passengers requiring additional support.
A total of GBP 45 million (EUR 52 million) has been invested in the project.
The highlight of the celebrations was the arrival of the Azuma train “Darlington” – named during last year’s national Railway 200 celebrations – at the new Platform 5, before taking guests on a special inaugural journey to York. The platform is primarily used by services linking the town with London King’s Cross and destinations across the East Coast Main Line.
The event also paid tribute to Darlington’s railway heritage, with guests able to see the famous steam locomotive “Tornado”, built at Darlington Works. The locomotive reflects the town’s enduring place at the heart of Britain’s railway history.
From 17 May, passengers began using the modernised Darlington Station following completion of the two-year project delivered by LNER, infrastructure manager Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Darlington Borough Council and the Department for Transport.
The station marks a new phase for the rail sector, with the majority of train operators now under public ownership. Great British Railways branding features throughout the station, reflecting efforts to bring the rail network together as a single organisation, ending years of fragmentation and delivering a more integrated railway system for the first time in decades.
Share on: 
