A major project to transform redundant buildings at Haltwhistle Station for community use is nearing completion.

Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (TVCRP) has led on the £500k project to turn the wooden station buildings, which date back to the 1900s, into sustainable, affordable, and flexible office or studio space.

The waiting room on platform one is now virtually complete, aside from some painting and work to seal the windows, and is being readied to host the first-ever ‘Haltwhistle is Something Special’ poster exhibition. TVCRP added that they were “particularly delighted” with a new display on the toilet window which depicts the station as it was in the 1960s.

Both waiting rooms now have electricity, and in due course, the building on platform two will be dressed as a welcome to Hadrian’s Wall, the local World Heritage Site. At the rear of platform two, on the former platform three and the old trackbed to Alston, the group are awaiting a Community Licence from Network Rail to enable volunteers to tend to the area and keep it litter and foliage free.

Julie Gibbon, TVCRP secretary and project director, said: “Hopefully it will not be too long before we can share photos of the finished work and welcome you for a tour of the new facilities.”

The renovation project has been supported and funded by Northern, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust, Community Rail Network, Transpennine Express, Cross Country, Avanti West Coast, and TVCRP.