New footbridge in place at Grade II listed station

The new footbridge will link the existing Darlington station with two new platforms

A 50-tonne footbridge has been installed as part of a £140m redevelopment of a railway station.

The structure links the existing Grade II listed Darlington station with two new platforms.

The bridge was fixed into place on Saturday and Sunday after arriving in two parts.

Luke Durston, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: "We're at a crucial and exciting stage in this transformational project, and the successful installation of this footbridge is a significant milestone."

A new staircase and lifts to the footbridge will also be installed

"The site as a whole is really taking shape now and the bridge provides a prominent visual marker of the progress being made," he added.

The installation took place on the third of six consecutive weekends when there are no trains to or from the station.

A hole had to be created in the Victorian station's roof to allow the bridge to be slid into place using a 750-tonne crane purpose built at the site by a smaller crane.

The scheme to upgrade the station was approved in June 2022

The project also includes a new eastern concourse building, a car park for 600 cars as well as upgraded tracks, points and a signalling system.

It is hoped work will be completed by the end of this year, which coincides with 200 years of passenger train travel that began with the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.