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Durham Tees Valley Airport has today explained why one of the platforms and footbridge at a little-used rail halt are to be removed.
In a statement the airport explained that it has agreed with the Northern Rail that the once-a-week service at the Teesside Station halt will now run in only one direction, travelling from Hartlepool to Darlington and using the airport side platform which will remain in place.
Costs of maintaining the current infrastructure at the halt could be as high as £6million over the next five years…costs which would likely be met by the Airport
The airport statement reads “As we explained at the recent launch of the airport’s ‘Flying for the Future’ campaign and the document ‘Your Questions Answered’, dealing with the commonly asked questions and explaining the wider challenges, the levels of investments for any regional airport are considerable which is why we are focussed on driving passenger growth and business investment, exploiting the potential of the airport’s land holdings and developing revenue streams to support passenger operations.
“The existing airport rail halt, located a kilometre from the terminal building, is used by few people with its location unsuitable for airport passengers and for those in surrounding housing or businesses. Since the early 1990s it has received only the once-a-week obligatory so-called ‘Parliamentary’ service.
“The maintenance and remedial costs of maintaining the current infrastructure are estimated by as high as £6million over the next five years…expenditure which is not in line with our business goals.
“We have agreed with Northern Rail to introduce a change in the once-a-week train service which stops at the Teesside Station halt. The change, now in operation, means the train runs one direction only, travelling from Hartlepool to Darlington and using the airport side platform.
“We are not currently pursuing full closure of the station which would require support from both regional stakeholders and the relevant rail authorities. Our Masterplan includes a vision for a newly located station which would be delivered in partnership with our stakeholders and council shareholders and which we continue to aspire to achieve.”
Added Northern Rail “Northern has been asked to support proposals to amend the service and we are fully in agreement. The station only receives a ‘Parliamentary’ service currently with one train per week calling at the location and attracting minimal usage.
“Currently the station’s usage is the fourth lowest nationally–last year saw only 98 people through the facility, the year before the number was 32 and officially the nation’s lowest–the increase last year was solely due to a visit made by enthusiasts to the station last autumn.”
Details of the ‘Flying for the Future’ campaign and the ‘Your Questions Answered’ document can be found on the Durham Tees Valley Airport website www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com.
27-12-17
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[flipbook pdf=”http://neconnected.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Your-Questions-Answered-9-11-17.pdf”]
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