Middlesbrough railway station

Middlesbrough is a railway station on the Durham Coast Line, Esk Valley Line and Tees Valley Line. The station serves the town of Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by TransPennine Express. Direct destinations include Darlington, Saltburn, Sunderland, Newcastle, York, and Manchester Airport. There is a direct service to London Kings Cross once per weekday.

Middlesbrough
National Rail
Middlesbrough station in 2013
General information
LocationMiddlesbrough, Middlesbrough
England
Coordinates54°34′45″N 1°14′04″W
Grid referenceNZ495207
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byTransPennine Express
Platforms2
Tracks2
Other information
Station codeMBR
ClassificationDfT category C1
History
Original companyStockton and Darlington Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
December 1830Opened[lower-alpha 1]
1839Resited (second)[lower-alpha 2]
26 July 1847Resited (third)
16 December 1874Closed (third)
December 1877Resited and reopened (fourth)
3 August 1942Station extensively damaged in World War II air raid
Passengers
2017/18Decrease 1.313 million
2018/19Decrease 1.290 million
2019/20Increase 1.312 million
2020/21Decrease 0.343 million
2021/22Increase 1.211 million
 Interchange  53,435
Location
Middlesbrough is located in North Yorkshire
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Location in North Yorkshire, England
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

According to the Office of Rail and Road statistics, Middlesbrough railway station is the fourth busiest in the North East region, with 1,210,906 total entries and exits (2021–22 period).[1]

History
The station, as seen at the turn of the twentieth century (left), and in the 2010s (right).

The first railway line was opened in the area as long ago as December 1830, as an extension of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, to connect with the port of the (then new) town of Middlesbrough. From the opening of the line until 1837, passengers were served by a wooden shed on the route to the riverside coal staithes. The line was extended to the new exchange along Commercial Street in 1837, with a new station being constructed two years later. This new, more substantial station was opened by the S&DR in 1839.[2][3]

In June 1846, a branch line extending eastwards from the Stockton and Darlington Railway towards Redcar was opened by the Middlesbrough and Redcar Railway. Situated on the Redcar branch line on the southern edge of the new town, a new passenger station was designed by John Middleton, which opened on 26 July 1847.

As the town expanded rapidly southwards during the second half of the nineteenth century, the station was unable to cope with the increased traffic. Due to the design of the station not lending itself to expansion, it was subsequently demolished in 1874. It was replaced by the current, much larger station, which opened in December 1877. The Commercial Street station, becoming increasingly isolated from the town by the opening of the Redcar branch line, became a goods station, before eventually being demolished.[4][5][6]

The current station was designed by the North Eastern Railway's chief architect, William Peachey, with an ornate Gothic style frontage. Behind this, an overall roof of elliptical design once existed. Constructed out of wrought iron of lattice design, with glass covering the middle half, and timber (inside) and slate (outside) covering the outer quarters. The two end screens were glazed with timber cladding around the outer edges. The roof was high in relation to its width.[7]

The elliptical roof was severely damaged in a German daylight air raid, which took place on the afternoon of 3 August 1942.[8][9] It was eventually removed in 1954, to be replaced by the current design over the concourse and platforms.[10]

A major refurbishment of the station took place during 2017 and 2018, with repairs carried out to the station's roof and stonework, as well as the upgrading of the Wood Street car park.[11] New information screens were also installed as part of the refurbishment.

As part of a major upgrade to the station, platform 2 was extended in the first half of 2021, allowing for a new direct service from Middlesbrough to London King's Cross. On 13 December 2021, a London North Eastern Railway Class 800 Azuma departed from the station at 07:08am, the first direct service to the capital since 1988.[12][13]

Facilities
The ticket offices
The Waiting room

The main station layout consists of an entrance hall with ticket office, large concourse/waiting area and two covered platforms that are each subdivided into two sections. Platform 1 is divided into two sub-platforms (1a and 1b), as is platform 2 (2a and 2b). Two freight lines bypass to the north of the station.

The station is staffed and has a range of facilities including a cafe/bar, newsagent's shop, cycle storage, toilets and lifts.[14] A number of information screens throughout the station provide information on train arrivals and departures.

Car parking is situated to the east of the station and can be accessed via Exchange Square and Wood Street, and by footpath directly to the station. A drop-off point is located at the front of the station, close to the main entrance.

Current Redevelopment

The station is currently undergoing a major £34 million redevelopment including the building of a new platform. To improve the overall layout of the station, the existing undercroft and ticket office area are being completely rebuilt with better access. The redevelopment will include new station offices and repositioned staircases as well as a new station entrance.

A new platform 3 will also be built to the north of platform 2 fronting onto Bridge Street West, giving the station increased capacity to accommodate more trains. The whole project is due to be completed in 2024.[15]

Services

London North Eastern Railway

As of the December 2021 timetable change, London North Eastern Railway operate a once per weekday return service to London King's Cross, calling at Thornaby and York. More services are planned following the completion of station works.[16]

Rolling stock used: Class 800 Azuma

Durham Coast Line

As of the May 2021 timetable change, the station is served by an hourly service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Most trains continue to Hexham (or Carlisle on Sunday) and Nunthorpe. Two trains per day (three on Sunday) continue to Whitby.[17]

Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter

Esk Valley Line

Following the May 2021 timetable change, the station is served by an hourly service between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe, with two trains per day (excluding Sunday) continuing to Battersby, and six per day (four on Sunday) continuing to Whitby. Most trains continue to Newcastle via Hartlepool.[18]

Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter

Tees Valley Line

As of the May 2021 timetable change, the station is served by two trains per hour between Saltburn and Darlington via Middlesbrough, with one train per hour extending to Bishop Auckland. An hourly service operates between Saltburn and Bishop Auckland on Sunday.[19]

Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter

TransPennine Express

As of the December 2022 timetable change, the station is served by an hourly service between Saltburn and Manchester Airport via York. Most services run via Yarm, with the exception of one early morning arrival which travels via Darlington.[20]

Rolling stock used: Class 185 Desiro

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Thornaby   London North Eastern Railway
East Coast Main Line		   Terminus
Thornaby   Northern Trains
Durham Coast Line		   Terminus
Terminus   Northern Trains
Esk Valley Line		   James Cook
Thornaby   Northern Trains
Tees Valley Line		   South Bank
Thornaby   TransPennine Express
North TransPennine		   Redcar Central
  Historical railways  
Terminus   London and North Eastern Railway
Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway		   Ormesby
  • Site of the first timber-built station, opened in 1830 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway, now an industrial estate.
    Site of the first timber-built station, opened in 1830 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway, now an industrial estate.
  • Middlesbrough railway station after a German air raid on 3 August 1942.
    Middlesbrough railway station after a German air raid on 3 August 1942.
  • Middlesbrough railway station in July 1977, looking west towards Thornaby.
    Middlesbrough railway station in July 1977, looking west towards Thornaby.
  • Class 185 Desiro at platform 2, April 2013.
    Class 185 Desiro at platform 2, April 2013.

Notes
  1. The first station was a timber-built shed, constructed by the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
  2. The second station was located on Commercial Street.

References
  1. "Estimates of station usage 2021/22". Office of Rail and Road. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  2. "Railway Architecture of North East England : Middlesbrough". W. Fawcett, 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. "December 1861 map of Middlesbrough North Riding: A Vision of Britain Through Time". University of Portsmouth and others. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. Body 1988, pp. 118–9
  5. "Railway Architecture of North East England : Middlesbrough Station". W. Fawcett, 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  6. "Yorkshire 6 (includes: Billingham; Middlesbrough.) Surveyed: 1853 Published: 1857". Old Maps Online: National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  7. Delplanque, Paul. "Middlesbrough Railway Station...Then and now". GazetteLive. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  8. Hitches, M – Steam Around Middlesbrough (Amberley Publishing, 2014) p. 69
  9. "On this day in Yorkshire 1942: Train Missed Middlesbrough Bombing by Minutes". The Yorkshire Post. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  10. "Railway Architecture of North East England : Middlesbrough Station". W. Fawcett, 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  11. Brown, Mike (21 December 2016). "Middlesbrough Railway Station: £2.7m refurbishment will start in the new year". GazetteLive. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  12. "LNER launches new Middlesbrough to London trains". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. "Fireworks and music as new LNER Azuma direct train leaves Middlesbrough for London Kings Cross". Teesside Live. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  14. "Station facilities for Middlesbrough (MBR)". National Rail. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  15. Banks, Georgia (13 February 2023). "British steel to be used in £34m Middlesbrough station revamp". Teesside Live. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  16. "London North Eastern Railway: Our Timetables". London North Eastern Railway. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  17. "Train times: Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough to Newcastle and Metrocentre" (PDF). Northern Trains. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  18. "Train times: Middlesbrough to Whitby (Esk Valley Railway)" (PDF). Northern Trains. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. "Train times: Bishop Auckland and Darlington to Middlesbrough and Saltburn" (PDF). Northern Trains. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  20. "Train times: Liverpool and Manchester to Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Edinburgh". TransPennine Express. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.

Bibliography
  • Body, G (1988). PSL Field Guides – Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-072-1.
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