The sun shone on Haltwhistle as Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership said thank you to everyone who had supported and contributed to the projects that have transformed the railway station.
Representatives of supporting organisations, train operating companies, Network Rail, Railway Heritage Trust, Community Rail Network, advisors, contractors, volunteers and representatives of the local community were invited.
The station buildings and waiting room have seen a huge makeover, improving the facilities for passengers and bringing redundant former station buildings back into use. This has been a very long term project, with the ideas first being discussed over seven years ago. There followed negotiations with the rail industry, funding applications, planning approvals, environmental reports and checks before any work could commence.
Work commenced in September 2020 but was beset by unexpected challenges and delays.
The project was completed in autumn 2024, with tenants moving into the new studios/offices on completion. 
Guests had the opportunity to look inside the studios, chat with the tenants and see the exhibition in Platform 2 waiting room about Hadrian’s Wall, some of its attractions and final mile solutions. The tenant in studio 3, That Taxi Co, is providing a welcome service helping rail passengers get to their final destination or to the station. In the waiting room on Platform 1, the Haltwhistle is Something Special What’s for Tea exhibition was another focal point of the station tour. The tenant in the adjacent studio, Marcus Byron, assisted with the design of the exhibition posters.
Julie Gibbon, TVCRP’s Project Director said “we are thrilled with improvements this project has achieved. Gone are the unloved, redundant and unwelcoming buildings”.
The Partnership took on the lease of the former 1861 Water Tower, creating a welcoming café and events space, which opened in September 2024. The project had to accommodate the restrictions and requirements of the building’s listed building status. The interior water columns are listed structures necessitating some careful planning and joinery work so we could fit our the kitchen area.
The Café’s manager, Jules, welcomed all the guests into the café to enjoy a delicious buffet, where they were also able to see how the listed building had been refurbished
More recently with the support of CrossCountry and Northern, a human sundial has been installed on the station forecourt illustrating the impact railways had on the standardisation of time in the 19th century. The colourful artwork has created some curiosity amongst visitors to the station. It will provide a useful ‘prop’ when children visit the Old Booking Hall as part of an organised educational visit.
Chair of the TVCRP, Malcolm Chainey said “The Stations Building project and Water Tower Café have been the biggest projects undertaken by the Partnership, possible because of the support provided to us by rail industry partners and others. We are thrilled with the result, transforming the station into a hub of activity”.
Other positive outcomes have been seen in the social and economic impact. The studios provide opportunities for small and start up businesses to have an office at a location with excellent transport links. The Water Tower is a popular meeting place for a coffee and a chat and the cafe soures many of its products locally. The agreement to utilise the station forecourt area was part of the Water Tower project and this has enabled monthly makers markets to be held supporting more small businesses.
We've created this video to illustrate some of the improvements the projects have achieved.