With a decision pending on Government funding for a project to regenerate Darlington railway station, unlocking the Tees Valley’s potential, Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon sets out the case for investment

THE modern passenger railway was born in the Tees Valley 192 years ago this month, when George Stephenson’s Locomotion Number One travelled between Darlington and Stockton.

We will celebrate the 200th anniversary of this globally significant event in 2025, showcasing to visitors from across the world the same ambition and ingenuity that has fuelled Darlington and Tees Valley ever since, placing at the heart of Britain’s industrial landscape. Back in March, the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Borough Council set out their shared ambition for Darlington 2025 – a vision to remodel the station for the 21st Century, creating thousands of jobs and cutting journey times between the North-East and the key hubs of London, Manchester and Birmingham.

We hold the same convictions as our forefathers, that fast and efficient rail services are key to economic growth. That’s why it is vital that we have the support of both the business community and the wider public, to make the case for Darlington 2025 as passionately and persuasively as possible.

Darlington 2025 is one of a number of development projects across the country competing for investment and support from the Department for Transport. Here in the North-East, we’re all too well aware that Whitehall doesn’t have unlimited funds and we expect to hear in the next few months which projects the Government will fund.

We’ve already got cross-party support and I’d like to thank Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen for his efforts to promote the project. I believe now is the time for everyone – in Darlington, the Tees Valley and the wider region – to come together and support our vision and help us secure the £150m investment to breathe new life into the station and surrounding areas, create a welcoming environment for passengers and at the same time unlock the gateway to the Tees Valley. This week, we’re unveiling an information point at Bank Top station, where you’ll be able to find out more about the project, which includes plans for new commercial, residential and retail developments. We’ll also be launching a short questionnaire, where you can let us know what you think about the proposals.

OUR vision for the station will be in keeping with its heritage and stature, while modernising facilities and creating a modern rail hub for a modern economy. The wider Tees Valley economy is made up of about 16,500 businesses, which together contribute more than £12.5bn to the national economy. If this project is green-lit, it will help drive further development of key growth sectors, including advanced manufacturing, process, chemicals and energy, logistics, health and biologics, digital and creative, as well as generating further opportunities in other areas.

So the benefits to Tees Valley and the wider region are there for all to see, but I also want to make clear, to the people of Darlington, that this project would have a hugely positive impact for all of us. Better pedestrian and cycle routes will put the station back at the heart of the town centre, with clear links into town and improved parking and drop-off. There’ll be a footpath linking the station to the key enterprise zone at Central Park and we also hope it will pave the way for regeneration of the surrounding areas, including the long-awaited redevelopment of the cattle market site.

It’s an exciting time for rail, with new franchises, new rolling stock and the advent of HS2. Rail demand is forecast to double in the next 20 years. The partners involved in Darlington 2025 agree and recognise the need to improve our current rail infrastructure and give us the extra capacity we need to ‘futureproof’ the station for generations to come.

As it stands, all local rail services currently have to cross the East Coast Mainline, causing conflict between local and national trains and reducing capacity. That means it’s not possible to increase services, and is a significant barrier to rail efficiency across the Tees Valley. Darlington 2025 will solve these issues. Improvements at Darlington should be a national priority if we are to take advantage of the exciting opportunities ahead.

If we are to do this, we need to do it once and do it right. Darlington is very proud of its railway heritage and rightly so. Let’s all get behind Darlington 2025 and do our bit to ensure it continues to be a railway hub throughout the 21st Century and beyond.

See www.darlington2025.co.uk for more information.