Darlington’s historic Railway Centre & Museum is set for a £1.7m refurbishment at Easter.

The Grade II listed Victorian station – home of the world’s first passenger railway in 1842 – will feature an expanded display space to better showcase its locomotives and touring engines as well as new interactive displays explaining Darlington’s role in railway development.

The Ken Hoole Study Centre will be relocated within the building to provide improved facilities for schools and historical groups accessing railway archives and artefacts.

Darlington council’s cabinet member for leisure services, Cllr Lee Vasey, said: “This is a very exciting development in the history of this important building. It will help us to tell an international audience about the pivotal role Darlington and its residents played in shaping railways around the world.”

Funding sources comprise almost £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF); £400,000 from The Northern Rock Foundation; £385,000 from the European Regional Development Fund; £191,000 from English Heritage; £150,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust and £69,000 from the local council. Details: www.darlington.gov.uk