It’s Action Stations as Lift Shafts Installed in Hartlepool Overhaul

The redevelopment of Hartlepool Station is continuing, as new images reveal how construction crews installed two lift shafts as part of the project.

The steel shafts are each made up of two sections, weighing a total of 16.9 tonnes, and were put in place on platforms 2 and 3 in four separate crane lifts. A 30-tonne tailing crane lifted the sections upright, before a 100-tonne critical crane put the steel in place.

This piece of work, led by Network Rail, was completed overnight last weekend to ensure there was no disruption to services or passengers.

This is the latest phase of work, following piling late last year which kick-started the ongoing redevelopment of the previously disused platform 3. Platform 2 is set to be extended by 20 metres to house the new footbridge and lift.

The works, carried out by Story Contracting, will help provide more capacity to enable future service for routes including those between London and Sunderland operated by Grand Central. The development will also provide a potential boost to Northern services which connect Hartlepool with Middlesbrough, Newcastle and other major towns on the Durham Coast rail line.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen worked closely with Hartlepool Borough Council Leader Cllr Shane Moore to provide £12million in funding.

The station overhaul supports the aims of the planned Mayoral Development Corporation for the town, which was recently endorsed by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Finance and Policy Committee. It aims to build on the Council’s existing regeneration plans to reshape the town to make it a more attractive place to live and visit, support small businesses and deliver a master plan to maximise future funding.

The station upgrades are being delivered by Network Rail, with support from Northern Trains Limited, Grand Central and Hartlepool Borough Council.

Mayor Houchen said: “Work at Hartlepool station is progressing at pace, with crews working through the night to get the next piece of the jigsaw puzzle in place and install the lift shafts.

“These, along with the new footbridge, platform extension and redeveloped additional platform are vital to make our region’s third-biggest station fit for the 21^st century.

“Our ambitions for the centre of Hartlepool need to be reflected in a top-quality station, so investors, visitors and local people are better connected than ever and have a first-class welcome. As we push forward with our plans for a re-energised town through our Development Corporation plans, Hartlepool Station will put us on the front foot for getting more people into the town to supporting our brilliant businesses and create a community to be even more proud of.”

Cllr Moore said: “Work on the station is pressing on at a cracking pace and it’s fantastic to see the new facilities taking shape.

“This multimillion-pound upgrade, and the increased capacity and other opportunities which it will bring, will give us a top-quality station which is integral to our wider work to transform and revitalise our town.

“With the existing major regeneration plans which the Council is bringing to fruition, including the Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund initiatives, and the exciting future vision of the Hartlepool Mayoral Development Corporation, it’s a massively exciting time to live, work and invest in Hartlepool.”

Anna Weeks, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “It is great to see the next phase of this huge, multi-million-pound investment at Hartlepool station get underway. The new footbridge with lifts will make sure that the station is accessible for all, whilst the platform redevelopments will allow us to welcome more passengers in the future.

“We will continue to work with Tees Valley Combined Authority and our industry partners to deliver this landmark project and we look forward to seeing the redevelopment continue to progress over the coming months.”