A £3.59m campaign to boost accessibility at a railway station is underway after several years without investment.
Ambitious plans are underway to create a new bridge and improve disabled access at Billingham station, kickstarting a programme of improvements throughout the Tees Valley.
By Spring 2023, a new and improved bridge will connect the station’s two platforms, and two state-of-the-art lifts will provide step-free access for the thousands of passengers who use Billingham station each year.
It will be the biggest revamp the station has seen since it was opened in 1966.
The changes will make it easier for passengers with limited mobility, heavy luggage, bikes or pushchairs to reap the benefits of Billingham’s rail connections to places like Newcastle, Whitby and Hexham.
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Councillor Bob Cook, leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “We have thought for a number of years that it was unacceptable for Billingham Station to have no disabled access – and that’s why we’ve pushed hard for this scheme to be brought to fruition.
“It’s great to see the work underway so residents with reduced mobility and those with pushchairs and prams can access another avenue of public transport for work and leisure.”
The redevelopment is part of the Government’s Access for All initiative, which aims to make rail stations more accessible for less able passengers.
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Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, added: “For too long people in Billingham with mobility issues, bikes, and pushchairs, have been forced to travel further to get the train, so I’m delighted that spades are now in the ground at Billingham Station, and the station is set to have step-free access by Spring 2023.
“This has been a long, hard-won campaign by local councillors and residents – supported by my office – to ensure Billingham Station is fit for the twenty-first century and it’s great to see this campaign has paid off.
“I know that people from Billingham and beyond will be pleased to see this work completed and open for use of everyone.”
Additional improvements to the car park will make it even easier for passengers to access the station, and future plans to upgrade the platforms will improve the look of the entire station.
Kieran Dunkin, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “These major changes will completely transform the way that passengers use Billingham station and help us to provide a railway that truly is here for everybody.
“Young families, keen cyclists, holiday-goers and disabled travellers will all see a much more welcoming station, and I hope it encourages more people to travel by train.”
The £3.59m project is being backed by £1m of funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “After years of local people crying out for major improvements to be carried out at Billingham station to improve access, I’m delighted spades are now in the ground and we can crack on and deliver the better access that will benefit everyone who uses the station. When I visited the site last week ot was great to see workers already hard at work getting on with this critical station upgrade.
“Despite the clear need for major improvements to the station so those in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues could have quick and easy access to the station nothing happened until I stepped in and provided £1m and supported Northern Rail’s bid for funding through the Government’s Access for All scheme.
“We’re transforming the biggest stations across the region but we can’t lose sight of smaller ones like Billingham’s, which provides a vital lifeline for many people in the surrounding area, linking them to Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe.
“We secured £310million to boost transport links of all types in every corner of the region and this project shows how we’re putting that money to good use now to improve the lives of people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
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