Rail attraction set for summer holiday opening

Hopetown Darlington's main building is almost complete

Work is on schedule for a multimillion-pound rail heritage centre to open in time for the school summer holidays, a council has said.

Hopetown Darlington is "on track" to open in mid-July, the head of heritage and culture at Darlington Borough Council Mike Crawshaw said.

It is hoped the £35m site, which encompasses the original Head of Steam museum, will attract 300,000 visitors a year.

Mr Crawshaw said the site, which includes a live station, will celebrate Darlington's railway heritage.

Hopetown Darlington includes the original Head of Steam museum

The council said there had been major progress in recent weeks

The site will feature a train-themed adventure playpark, along with a new exhibition hall and 4D virtual reality ride showing how rail travel changed the world.

Visitors will also be able to watch volunteers from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at work.

The site will appeal to families and rail enthusiasts, the council said

People will be able to arrive at the attraction by train.

"It's a live station and that's part of the beauty and appeal of the site, because you can sit and have a coffee and, as well as celebrating the history of the site, you've got the Bishop Line passing alongside parallel," Mr Crawshaw said.