Member Article

£1m improvements to Teesside railway station

Plans to transform Eaglescliffe Station in a major £1m upgrade are a step nearer to completion.

The plans are part of the Tees Valley Rail Network Improvements programme, which is delivering enhancements at all local stations across the area.

Work at Eaglescliffe Station is due to start in November. It is the second stage of improvements to the station following installation of a manned ticket office in 2012 and an improved Public Address system and new Customer Information Screens earlier this year.

The new facilities include a modern glass station building with a waiting room, CCTV, new platform benches, handrails, and anti-slip paving and surfacing on the footbridge.

The station car park will also be significantly extended seeing its capacity increase from 30 to 84 spaces.

Passenger numbers have risen from 136,000 per year to 150,000 since the ticket office was built, and it is hoped the developments will continue to attract rail users.

Stockton Council, in partnership with Tees Valley Unlimited and Northern Rail, has secured funding for the improvements from the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Grand Central.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “We are committed to improving transport services and railway stations across Stockton.

“Eaglescliffe is a well-used station which has already benefited from investment into the new ticket office and three members of staff.

“The new facilities will give passengers an even better travelling experience, which I hope will encourage more commuters to use the rail service.”

Eaglescliffe is the fourth station in Stockton Borough to be upgraded with secured funding.

Earlier this year, Allens West, Billingham and Stockton stations also benefited from investment secured by Tees Valley Unlimited from the Department for Transport.

Work on Eaglescliffe Station is expected to be complete by January 2014. The car park extension will then begin, with completion scheduled for May 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .