A sign indicating ‘Platform 3’ has been installed at a railway station, even though the platform is not expected to be built until several years later due to funding challenges. The construction timeline for the project at Middlesbrough station has been pushed back to 2028. The addition of Platform 3 has been a long-standing plan aimed at enhancing the capacity and reliability of the region’s train services.
Despite the placement of the sign, the Tees Valley Combined Authority has postponed the construction of Platform 3. Initial plans aimed for the platform to be operational by the end of 2022, but now the building work is projected to commence in 2027. The completion of this infrastructure is anticipated to improve connections to the capital, particularly increasing the frequency of trains between Middlesbrough and London.
Presently, there is only one daily train service between Middlesbrough and London in each direction. The schedule includes an LNER train departing Middlesbrough at 7.35am and arriving at Kings Cross at 10.39am, with the return journey leaving London at 6.45pm and reaching Middlesbrough at 9.47pm, both journeys taking slightly over three hours.
Recent transport documents from TVCA in early 2024 suggest the possibility of enhancing services between London and Middlesbrough to one every two hours. TVCA aims to introduce more direct services to London, contingent upon the completion of the third platform, the addition of new trains, and approval from government and rail authorities for a revised timetable.
The completion timeline for Platform 3 has been adjusted from December 2022 to 2028. Design work for the project has been ongoing for some time, and discussions regarding costs and project scheduling are underway between TVCA and Network Rail. The primary funding for Platform 3 has been allocated from a government fund dedicated to financial years 2027/28 to 2031/32.
TVCA has received confirmation from the government that they can consolidate their transport funding starting in April 2026, offering increased flexibility for the project’s timeline and financing. Despite the delayed construction schedule, TVCA remains committed to enhancing rail services in the area, emphasizing the benefits that Platform 3 will bring to the Tees Valley rail network and the broader transportation network.
