Railway station entrance revamp

Jan 29 2008 by Susan Taylor, The Journal

PLANS have been unveiled to improve a railway station entrance which leads visitors to a World Heritage Site.

New steps, railings and lighting are planned at a cost of £290,000 to make visiting Durham by train a more welcoming experience.

Most of the funding is from regeneration agency One NorthEast.

Bill Bryson, travel author and honorary chancellor of Durham University, described the city as perfect in his book Notes from a Small Island.

He was smitten by the view of the cathedral as he left the train.

But since the station entrance was moved recently, visitors are now greeted by a wall of trees which conceal the cathedral.

Nichola Duckworth, an urban designer with Durham City Council, said: “The work to make the route from the station brighter and safer will involve taking down some trees and installing railings, fencing and lighting.

“It will also serve to improve views to the cathedral from the station.”