The wait is over in Durham, as the city's new bus station has opened following a nearly three-year-long redevelopment project. 

The bus station, located on the site of the former station on North Road, opened to the public today (Sunday, January 7), following £10.4million of building work. It is set to serve residents and visitors, with buses to Darlington, Sunderland, Barnard Castle, Hartlepool, Newcastle and more.

The Northern Echo: Durham's shiny new bus station is "much improved".

It has been designed to increase the overall space for passengers and has improved facilities including segregated toilets, a Changing Places toilet, accessible toilets, improved information displays and upgraded seating in the passenger waiting area.

More space for reversing buses and the exit onto North Road, created during the construction, has improved visibility for pedestrians and drivers. 

The Northern Echo: Durham's shiny new bus station is "much improved".

On the opening day, bus users were happy with the gleaming new station. Already, the bus station was busy with passengers. 

One woman, from Consett, said: "It's such an improvement - the old station was freezing in winter. Durham was long overdue a replacement.

The Northern Echo: Durham's shiny new bus station is "much improved".

Her husband added: "We've been queuing for buses on the street whenever we've come into Durham for a few years now, so having seats inside is a bonus.

"We didn't realise that the station was open today, so did go to our usual stand in the street, but realised quickly that something had changed when the street was quiet."

Others said it was a "fantastic upgrade" that "looks very smart". 

However, concerns persisted about security and anti-social behaviour in the station, with one passenger from Durham, who preferred to be anonymous, saying "hoodlums made the last station unsafe". 

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The Northern Echo: Durham's shiny new bus station is "much improved".

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North Road, which has played host to temporary bus stops since the former bus station was demolished in February 2021, was peaceful as the majority of bus services have been moved into the new station. 

The £10.4m bus station redevelopment also includes a two-storey office area where council security, cleaning and neighbourhood warden staff, as well as representatives from Durham Constabulary and Arriva, will be based.

Durham County Council has advised that works will continue on North Road to reinstate the road and footpath where temporary bus stops were placed and this is expected to be completed in the spring.