Grahame Morris MP visited the new Horden Station this morning, as it opened to passengers.

The Easington MP has campaigned for the development of the new Horden Station over recent years.

The station had been scheduled to open in May, but this was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The new Horden Station will link the east of the county into the local, regional and national rail network, supporting the wider regeneration of the area and boosting the county’s economy.

The station is located outside Peterlee, and will be served by one train per hour in each direction between Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

The Department for Transport estimates that the station will facilitate more than 70,000 passenger journeys per year.

The development replaces the former Horden station, which was located approximately 200 metres further south, and closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts.

The £10.55 million project has been led by Durham County Council and Network Rail, with an additional £4.4m from the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, as well as a grant from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership via the Local Growth Fund.

Plans for a special opening event have been postponed under current social distancing guidelines, but will be rescheduled as soon as it is safe to do so.

As government guidance remains in place, people are being urged to avoid visiting the new station in coming days and weeks, unless they are making an essential journey. People are also being reminded that face coverings are now mandatory on public transport in England.

Grahame Morris MP said, “I was delighted to see Horden Station open to passengers this morning, after years of campaigning, lobbying ministers, and working with local authorities and partners. It will provide much-needed connectivity for east Durham, and will be an asset to Peterlee and the surrounding area.”