Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, has announced a £35m transformation of Middlesbrough station to improve the number of train services in the town, including the first direct link to London.
The Mayor has committed £22.5m to the scheme which will see a platform extension to facilitate more and longer trains.
The extended Platform 2 will house new LNER Azumas which Mayor Houchen is in discussions with the government-owned operator to restore daily services between Middlesbrough and London.
The scheme will also see improvements to the station, including a new £6.5m entrance, business units and the potential for a new platform 3 built to increase capacity at the station.
The scheme is a partnership between the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, Network Rail, Middlesbrough Council and the Department for Transport, with support from train operators.
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: “For years people have talked about the need to develop this station to get new services but very little has actually been done, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is to deliver increased capacity at the station and help bring us the services the people of Middlesbrough and Teesside deserve. Increasing the frequency of services and train routes is a key part of my plan to for workers, local jobs and wages to restore our way of life once we're through the pandemic.
“While we will also make major improvements in customer areas, including a modern and much more accessible front entrance, first and foremost this is about increasing the capacity of the station to accommodate more and longer trains.
“I have been leading very positive discussions with LNER and Network Rail to work with them and partners to introduce the first services between London and Middlesbrough in decades and, as they have told me, the increased station capacity is crucial to achieving this.
“Network Rail expects to start work to expand platform 2 in early 2021, and we're hoping to get confirmation of a service to London in 2021 which would be a great boost for businesses and people in Middlesbrough.
“While there are lots of things to consider when planning the introduction of new services, including the supply of rolling stock, the impact of the recent pandemic and infrastructure upgrades across the rail network, I will make sure we play our part in encouraging the operators to bring new services to our region by getting the station ready as quickly as we can. Capacity is already stretched, and doing nothing is not an option.”
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail's North and East Route said: “We've been working for many months with Mayor Houchen and the other stakeholders involved at Middlesbrough to move forward the long-held aspiration to secure a direct-to-London train service without unduly impacting the services that already serve the town.
“New infrastructure is one part of the solution, and behind the scenes my team are putting together the plans that will see us start building the extension to platform 2 early next year as we start the journey of turning our stakeholders' ambition to reality.”
The plans form part of an outline business case with preparation work expected to start in the autumn, and building work on site in early 2021.
Andy Preston, Middlesbrough Mayor, said: “I'm furious that there are no direct trains to London – this staggering gap in basic infrastructure is a symptom of major historic problems here. So thank God that this is finally being sorted. Well done Ben Houchen and everyone involved.
“Direct trains will boost our progress towards creating the UK's digital city and countless jobs in the oldest part of Middlesbrough.”
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I think strictly the Mayor is putting other people’s money where his mouth is, but good on him for getting it moving.
Wonderful to see how LNER can offer new direct services from London Kings Cross to the Northeast including Middlesborough. And for Middlesborough station to have some upgrades. So it can accommodate the Class 800 Azuma Bi-Mode IETs (5-Car and 9-Car).