Plans to reopen Hartlepool railway station's second platform to improve rail travel

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Hartlepool Borough Council Leader Shane Moore made the joint announcement saying the project will improve rail transport for residents and businesses.

Hartlepool railway station is the busiest single platform station in the UK and has 650,000 passengers a year.

Mayor Houchen said it is a major part of the region’s rail network with the Grand Central service between London and Sunderland, and Middlesbrough and Newcastle route on the Durham Coast line.

Work on proposals for reopening the second platform is said to have begun after Mayor Houchen and the Combined Authority Cabinet signed off £1.5million to develop the project in January.

Mayor Houchen said: “Everyone knows about our ambitious plans to redevelop and improve Darlington and Middlesbrough stations, but Hartlepool is another key station that we are investing in and that is set to be transformed so that local people can get around the region quicker and easier, while adding much needed capacity.

“For a long time, local people in Hartlepool have been crying out for the second platform to be brought back into to use, and I’m pleased that we can now make this a reality.

"Securing more funding and improving Hartlepool station will help us secure more services, which means more and better journeys for our businesses and local people.”

A study commissioned by the mayor and Tees Valley Combined Authority and supported by Network Rail, Northern Trains Limited and Hartlepool Borough Council is due to be completed early next year.

Cllr Moore said: “I am delighted that we are making real progress on this hugely important scheme for the town.

“A second platform will benefit local residents and businesses in terms of improved rail travel, and it will also support our efforts to attract more visitors to the town by creating a gateway to the town’s marina – potentially providing a big boost to the local economy.”

Hartlepool MP Mike Hill has also called for the station’s second platform to be reopened to boost its capacity.

He welcomed the new announcement saying on Twitter: “Best infrastructure investment for a long time.”

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