North East News

Double award for Hopetown Darlington

Hopetown Darlington has won a specially created award at the annual Heritage Railway Association Awards.

Hopetown Darlington was awarded the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Railway 200 Special Award, which was created especially at the discretion of the judging panel and the board of the HRA to mark a particular project, scheme, or activity that stands out and celebrates 200 years of the modern railway.

Hopetown Darlington really caught the imagination of the whole judging panel for capturing the spirit and very heart of what Railway 200 is all about - a project which will be a key venue for 2025 bi-centenary anniversary events and putting Darlington and the surrounding region on the world map as being a place to be truly proud of.

The award also recognises Hopetown Darlington’s contribution to the development of young people through a heritage educational experience in a fun environment, creating a community hub for the local area and offering opportunities for all residents and visitors to explore Darlington’s role in the birthplace of modern passenger rail.

Railway Association Chief Executive, Steve Oates, said: “This is a really special year for railway heritage, both in the North East and across the whole country, as we celebrate Railway 200. It’s wonderful to be able to acknowledge some of the fantastic achievements of museums linked to the history of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2025. The work that has gone into creating Hopetown Darlington is enormously impressive and the judging panel felt that the project was a very deserving winner of the Railway 200 Special Award. Everyone involved should be congratulated. I hope that the transformed museum will help new audiences to connect with the important role that railways have played in creating the world we know today.”

The awards ceremony, which took place at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead last Saturday 8 February, was a celebration of railway heritage attractions from all across the UK.

Alongside the Railway 200 Special Award, Hopetown Darlington also won the Heritage Railway Magazine Interpretation Award, recognising the way North Road Station Museum at Hopetown Darlington tells the story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Darlington’s influence on railways across the world.

Robin Jones, Chief Editor of Heritage Railway Magazine, said: “Britain boasts many magnificent railway museums big and small, but Hopetown Darlington, which opened on the eve of the nationwide celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, has appeared in exactly the right place at the right time, and takes the concept into a third century of the modern railway. An ingenious combination of locomotives, stock and relics from the early decades of steam haulage with fascinating and inspirational 21st-technology high-technology exhibits excels in introducing our proud rail legacy to new generations.”

These awards follow on from Hopetown’s recently awarded Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme accolade and the Welcome accolade, both awarded by VisitEngland, the Visitor Economy Award at the County Durham Together Awards and Best Museum or Cultural Venue at the North East Culture Awards.

Leona White-Hannant, Hopetown Darlington’s Development Director, said: “Not only is it the bicentenary festival this year celebrating 200 years of the modern railway, it is also the 50th birthday of Hopetown Darlington’s North Road Station Museum. Ever since the museum first opened in 1975, we have continued to proudly tell the story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway to many generations, a story that future generations will hopefully be telling for another 200. This award is a huge well done to our partners that we worked with during the redevelopment and the whole team at Hopetown Darlington who promote our story every day.”

Councillor Libby McCollom, Cabinet Member for Local Services, said: “This special award these special awards for Hopetown Darlington reflect how the attraction is excelling in its mission to shout about Darlington’s pioneering railway heritage. I am incredibly proud of Hopetown Darlington, our partners and team as it is quickly becoming one of the leading visitor attractions in the region. With an exciting year ahead with the bicentenary celebrations, 2025 will be a great year for Darlington’s star attraction.”
Hopetown Darlington opened in July 2024 and has welcomed over 100,5000 visitors.
Visitors can plan their visit to the award-winning Hopetown Darlington by visiting hopetowndarlington.co.uk. Site admission is free. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge. Pre-booking online is recommended.