(02 Jan 2024, 4:52 pm)Adrian wrote More TVCA money spaffed on that airport.

Interestingly though, in this article from 2021, Ben said: “Work is going to take place on the station but convincing rail operators to use it requires us to show passenger numbers increase. But as always the plan is to upgrade and bring the station back into use.”. So I'm unsure why he's suggesting it's money from Government, now that they've cancelled HS2?

I do think the station needs maintaining and reopening, but that should be routine DfT spend, not down to a local authority to bid funding for.

In addition to a short shuttle bus, I wonder if a better option would be to run an Airport Express, similar to the 100 in Edinburgh. It's roughly the same distance from Darlington Station.

This was previously a thing, Skyexpress service 737 running from inside Darlington Rail Station (where the taxi rank now is) and Feethams direct to the airport.

Having a shuttle from the airport station is no doubt more cost effective especially as it caters for passengers travelling to/from Darlington (and beyond) as well as from Teesside and the likes of Saltburn & Whitby.