A 50-tonne footbridge has been installed by Network Rail at Darlington station – marking a major milestone in the £140m transport hub transformation.

The enclosed, step-free pedestrian bridge links the existing grade II-listed station with the new platforms 5 and 6 and eastern concourse building.

The bridge was fixed into place over the weekend after arriving on Friday 21 February in two parts – one weighing 32 tonnes and measuring 31 metres in length, the other 18 tonnes and 16 metres.

A hole had to be created in the Victorian station’s roof to allow the bridge to slide into place – using a 750-tonne crane which was purpose built at the site by a smaller crane.

Network Rail teams and partners are delivering £98m of Department for Transport-funded rail enhancements as part of the wider £140m scheme.

The upgrades include the new platforms, footbridge and eastern concourse building, as well as upgraded track, points and signalling system.

The bridge’s installation is a significant milestone in the project to deliver a modern transport hub, ready to serve passengers for decades to come while also celebrating Darlington’s proud heritage as the birthplace of the railways.

The project’s target completion date is December 2025 – a fitting close to this year’s Railway 200 celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the first passenger journey.

Luke Durston, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: “We’re at a crucial and exciting stage in this transformational project, and the successful installation of this footbridge is a significant milestone.

“The site as a whole is really taking shape now, and the bridge provides a prominent visual marker of the progress being made.

“We’re grateful to passengers and other station users for their understanding during the disruption caused while this work is undertaken.”

Matthew Murr, operations director BAM UK and Ireland – which is helping to deliver the project - said: “A huge amount of work has gone into reaching this prominent milestone, and it truly stands as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of every single member of the team.

“This success has been made possible through a shared vision and collaboration with our partners from the early development stages, through the planning phases, and into the execution of the work itself. BAM is now looking forward to the next stages of work and continuing a transformation that celebrates Darlington’s railway heritage.”

The footbridge was installed on 22-23 February – the third of six consecutive weekends of engineering work bringing important progress in the Darlington station project.

A third section being installed before the end of April will mark the completion of the footbridge