Transport Secretary celebrates improvements to Eaglescliffe Station
Patrick McLoughlin visited the Tees Valley to witness how a local railway station is benefiting from £1.2 million of investment.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited the Tees Valley today (4 February 2015) to witness how a local station is benefiting from £1.2 million of investment to improve services for passengers.
The Transport Secretary was visiting Eaglescliffe Station as part of a 3 day trip to meet northern leaders to discuss how transport improvements can drive forward the creation of a northern powerhouse.
Eaglescliffe Station is an important hub for passengers in Stockton-on-Tees and the neighbouring area to gain access to the mainline service between Sunderland and London. It is also a stop for many local services connecting to places such as Darlington, Middlesbrough and Saltburn.
Patrick McLoughlin said:
We are investing £38 billion in transforming railways up and down the country, delivering more trains, more seats and more services. We are also pushing ahead with plans for HS2, improving connectivity between northern cities and replacing old rolling stock. All this is a vital part of our long-term plan to rebalance the economy.
Locally-funded projects like this add to the momentum of this huge investment and help to ensure that even small communities are benefiting. Improvements to Eaglescliffe Station will help drive local economic growth by getting people to work, shops and visit local amenities.
Passenger and commuter numbers at Eaglescliffe Station have been growing steadily in the last few years. The improvements include a new, heated passenger waiting shelter, CCTVs, new electronic information screens, a resurfaced ramp and footbridge, and a larger car park. Work will be completed in April 2015.
The work has been taken forward by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership, and funded through the government-backed Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
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