Drayton Manor theme park is embarking on a £2.5m (US$3.9m, €3.4m) expansion of its Thomas Land attraction, with three new rides and a new Sodor Airport terminal.

Opening in early April, Thomas Land will increase in size by around 40 per cent. New rides include Flynn’s Fire Rescue, Captain’s Sea Adventure and Toby’s Tram Express.

The two-storey Sodor Airport features a top-level balcony overlooking Thomas Land and has five themed rooms available for hire for private events. On the ground floor will be a café, while Jet’s Flying Academy will be located outside.

The expansion will feature new Thomas & Friends additions to the park including Flynn the Fire Engine, Toby the Tram, Captain the Lifeboat and Merrick the Crane.

“2015 marks the 65th anniversary of Drayton Manor and throughout our long history we’ve always prided ourselves on offering a fun day out for the whole family,” said Drayton Manor CEO, Colin Bryan.

“That was the reasoning behind the launch of Thomas Land in 2008. Since then the area has gone from strength to strength and has provided an immersive experience for fans both young and old. We are delighted to be extending it this year with all these fantastic new rides and facilities for our visitors to enjoy.”