Darlington railway heritage site to create 'one of North's main attractions'

The redeveloped railway heritage quarter in Darlington is set to open next year

The redevelopment of Darlington's railway heritage quarter will create "one of the most significant heritage attractions in the whole of the North", it has been claimed.

Recently named Hopetown Darlington, it will be the focus of the town's rail history and is set to open next summer.

Darlington Council believes the multimillion-pound development could draw 300,000 people a year.

It will see the Head of Steam museum transformed into a family attraction.

The site will feature a £600,000 train-themed adventure playpark along with a new exhibition hall and a 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 developments will play a central role in the town's celebrations in 2025 to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The site will include a rail-themed adventure play park for children

Mike Crawshaw, head of culture and heritage at the council, said the construction of the site was progressing well. 

"It should be a really special experience for families, rail heritage enthusiasts, schools and other groups," he told councillors. 

"We want visitors to be able to see manufacturing happening and we want to continue that legacy.

"This is not just a reboot of a museum, it is one of the most significant heritage attractions in the whole of the North. 

"We really want to bring the world to the town and tell them how we changed rail."

The Hopetown brand has been inspired by the former name for the area, coined by railway pioneers who built foundries and homes beside the 1825 line, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It also includes the 1861 Engine Shed, most recently a scrapyard, which has been restored and is already home to a couple of railway preservation groups.

The town's train station is also being redeveloped with new platforms and a new building being constructed.