Eaglescliffe station is to be upgraded so that it is fully accessible and can accommodate future demands for passenger rail services and support housing and economic growth in the local area, including the Durham Lane Industrial Estate.
This will include a new fully accessible footbridge including lifts to the platforms and at all station entry points. This new bridge will replace the existing footbridge which links the east side to the platforms but in addition will create a new span to extend the bridge to the western side of the railway line to provide full accessibility to the station from both sides. The existing bridge and ramps will be removed. In addition, there will be various improvements to station buildings/waiting areas and other passenger facilities. Proposed enhancements on the west side include a new car park of approximately 120 spaces accessed from Durham Lane.
Meanwhile at Thirsk, a £5.4m scheme will also offer step-free access to every platform. The proposals include replacing the footbridge and installing new lifts.
And work on Hartlepool’s improvements to bring platform 3 back into use is expected to start next month with a tight schedule to be ready for the Tall Ships event in July next year. The first job will be to demolish what remains of the existing platform which will result in part closure of the station over the weekends of 17th/18th and 24th/25th September with rail replacement buses operating.