Demolition work on a £34m overhaul of Middlesbrough station is underway with officials offering a deadline for its completion.

Work to cut the perimeter of the undercroft with a specialist saw, excavator, and breaker has started. Experts are working on breaking through the ceiling in the station’s western area to create an access ramp into the undercroft.

Efforts to overhaul Middlesbrough Station have continued for a number of years. Improving capacity has been the aim to accommodate more services for the wider region.

The undercroft structure at the station is being replaced with a new steel frame. The current ticket hall stairs are being removed as part of the plans and a new staircase built off the central thoroughfare.

A new pedestrian walkway is also being created between Zetland Road at the south of the station and the existing subway. Tees Valley Combined Authority officials say all demolition work will be complete in eight weeks’ time – with all work forecast to be fully complete in July 2023.

The first phase of the project , funded with £22.5m from the TVCA, was finished in December last year. It involved one of the station’s platforms being extended by 75 metres to accommodate a new LNER Azuma direct train service to London – the town’s first to the capital in more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, a third platform has been lined up for construction north of platform two. Creating more capacity at Middlesbrough is a key aim of regional transport bosses to free up space and time on the wider Tees Valley network for more services.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen attended the works on Thursday and was happy with how they were going – adding the gateway was “sorely needed”.

He said: “It was great to be able to speak to the main contractors.” Mr Houchen added: “It was great to hear local contractors being used from Woodsmith, CS Construction and Bucklers as well – all based in Middlesbrough and all getting contracts supporting local jobs.”

Ambitions to overhaul Middlesbrough station have been held for many years – with the last administration at Middlesbrough Council lining up its revamp before cash from the TVCA pushed the scheme along. Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald was also pleased with progress.

The Labour MP said: “This is fabulous news and another step forward in the transformation of the station. I’m looking forward to the progress towards completion.”