A SPECIAL outing is being organised to help double the numbers at one of the region's railway stations.

The station which serves Durham Tees Valley Airport is one of the least used in the country.

Only one train a week stops there and in 2007-8 only 52 people used it.

Now, a railway enthusiast is hoping an outing to the station - which is still called Teesside Airport station - will lift it out of the bottom five in the country.

The trip, on Saturday, October 24, is being arranged by Alex Nelson, stationmaster at independent Chester-le-Street station.

Mr Nelson said he hoped the trip would not only increase Teesside Airport station’s visitors, but also highlight the fact that one of the region's airports is poorly served by the rail network.

He said: "I though if we can get 50 people to get on the train there, then their tickets will be recorded and, hopefully, the passenger numbers will considerably increase.

"It will also help to publicise how ridiculous it is that one of the region's major airports doesn't have a rail connection that's useful."

The party will set off from Chester-le-Street station at 9.21am.

The train will arrive at Darlington at 10.20am, before heading on to Teesside Airport for 10.28am.

The return train leaves at 1.41pm, to arrive at Chester-le-Street at 2.41pm.

Adult return tickets from Chester-le-Street cost £8.90 and are available from all staffed stations and the train.