Railway station opening delayed until next year

The new railway station in Darlington was due to open in December

A town's new railway station will not open until next year due to delays in its construction.

The £140m station in Darlington was set to open in December 2025, but it has now been pushed back until spring 2026.

Network Rail and the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) said they were working to mitigate the issues, which included design requirements for a "complex" footbridge.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the delays were "deeply frustrating" for the people of Darlington.

The development includes a multi-storey car park, transport interchange and gateway entrance.

Houchen said: "We handed over the new entrance hall last year on time and on budget – and I know this new delay prolongs disruption for passengers and the people of Darlington.

"People deserve the station they were promised without any more delays."

'Grateful for patience'

Two new platforms will be created on the station's eastern side to provide better connectivity along the East Coast Main Line and across the region.

Despite the delays, canopy works on the new platform are progressing and the fit-out of the new station shell is close to completion, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Work on the multi-storey car park is ongoing, with the new entrance from Neasham Road to the short stay interchange area complete.

Luke Durston, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: "While we had originally aimed to complete the overall project by the end of 2025, additional design requirements – particularly for the complex footbridge structure – mean we're now targeting spring 2026.

"We're grateful to passengers, residents, and our partners for their continued patience and support as we work to complete this transformative upgrade."