Station roof-replacement delays to affect passengers

Work on the project in Pickering will not be completed for when the first daily services begin on Saturday, meaning trains will not have access to the new covered area.

Services will instead pull up on the northern half of the platforms, where passengers will have to climb aboard or exit the carriages.

The railway’s general manager, Philip Benham, stressed that the actual timetable would be unaffected, and added: “It is a major project, but we are hopeful that we will be able to access the new covered area the following weekend.”

The roof is being built to the designs of the original structure which was installed in the mid-19th century but removed by British Rail in 1951 and replaced by canopies.

It emerged last month that delays had been caused after the wrong paint was used and steel girders had to be re-painted.

The public have been given a last chance to sponsor a slate on the new roof, which has so far raised £23,000.

Anyone who wants to pay £5 to have their name engraved on a tile and receive an official certificate needs to call 01751 473799 by the end of the week.