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Thursday 23 Feb 2006

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR MIDDLESBROUGH STATION

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Demolition of a long-standing eyesore and £1 million of improvements are set to transform Middlesbrough railway station. Zetland House office block, which has towered over the station since the 1960s is set to be removed from the town’s skyline as Network Rail demolishes the outdated concrete and glass structure to replace it with a new single-storey building more sympathetic to the Grade ll listed building. Dyan Crowther, Route Director, Network Rail said: “Zetland House served its purpose in its day, but it is now quite simply time for it to come down and make way for a structure more sympathetic to the station.” Inside the station, First TransPennine Express will be thoroughly cleaning and refurbishing the station subway, fitting new automatic entrance doors and building new toilets. The waiting room on platform 2 will be refurbished with new seating and tables and the disused staircase between platform 2 and the subway will be re-opened. A new CCTV system will be installed together with new train running information screens and a new public address system. Edith Rodgers, customer services director of First TransPennine Express says: “We are investing in the improvements that our passengers have told us that they want to see. The station will be a more welcoming place to travel to and from with better information, better waiting rooms, new toilets and enhanced safety and security.” Work will begin on Monday 27 February to strip out the interior of Zetland House ready for demolition in early summer and contractors will also be on site to start on the station improvements.  Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, said: "Middlesbrough railway station is an essential part of the Tees Valley's public transport network and the single most important gateway to a town centre which we want to reflect our civic pride and ambitions. “It is vital that the railway station meets our aspirations for a town which is on its way up and presents a welcoming and attractive access to Middlesbrough. I welcome these plans." Over the last year, Middlesbrough station has benefited from longer opening hours at the ticket office, installation of self-service ticket machines and the award of a Safer Parking Award for improvements made to the station car park. The station is used by more than one million passengers each year. It is owned by Network Rail and leased to First TransPennine Express who employ staff in the travel centre and on the station platforms.