PLANS to build a new railway station for an east Durham community have taken a step closer to reality.

The Department for Transport has today announced that Durham County Council has been successful in bidding for more than £4 million in funding from the second round of the New Stations Fund.

The money will go towards a £10.55 million scheme to create a railway station at Horden, Peterlee.

Durham County Council leader Councillor Simon Henig said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement from the Department of Transport, which marks a significant milestone in the project to create a railway station at Horden.

“The station, which we expect to be complete by 2020, will greatly enhance commuters’ ability to reach employment sites across the region and will be served by more than 20 trains a day heading north and south. It will also act as a park and ride, with spaces for more than 100 commuters.

“We believe it will serve as a significant focus for regeneration in this coastal community.

“There is already considerable support for this project regionally, with funding already in place from the North East Combined Authority and ourselves, and it is good to see this has now been nationally recognised.”

Out of a number of places considered Horden was chosen because it was central on the existing line between stations at Hartlepool and Seaham. |It will serve Horden, Peterlee, Shotton Colliery Easington Colliery, Easington Village and Blackhall.