Direct rail route from Teesside to London to launch this year with £34m station upgrade

The planned upgrade of a Teesside train station will enable direct trains from Middlesbrough to London to begin running by the end of 2021.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has today revealed that direct trains between Middlesbrough and London will return by the end of this year.

Work has already begun on Middlesbrough station’s £34m redevelopment, which will see the currently derelict station undercroft restored to provide a new entrance into the station subway and newly refurbished workspaces.

In addition work will be carried out on the road to the front of the station in a bid to improve access between the station and the town centre. A further phase will see a new platform 3 built to the north of platform 2 - aiming to further increase train capacity within the station.

Mayor Houchen commented: “For years people have been promising to improve Middlesbrough station and produced nothing more than shiny pictures. When I became mayor, I promised to deliver the investment Middlesbrough Station desperately needed and to secure the return of direct trains to London.

“I’ve provided £22.5m and secured the rest from government to make the redevelopment a reality and we are now getting on with the jobs. Work on platform 2 will be completed in just a matter of months and LNER Azuma trains will be rolling into the station from London in December.”

“Access to good-quality, reliable and affordable public transport is a key part of my plan for jobs. It’s pointless creating good-quality, well-paid jobs if hard working local people cannot easily get around the region. Increasing the frequency of services and train routes is a key part of my plan for workers, local jobs and wages.”

Transport Secretary and Minister for the Northern Powerhouse Grant Shapps, added: “The massive improvements being made to Middlesbrough Station underline our commitment to levelling up the North East, investing in the connections which deliver better journeys and kickstart economic growth.

“The long-awaited return of services to London is just one part of the massive investment being put into transport across the region, from work to restore the Ashington-Blyth line and millions to upgrade the TransPennine route.”