The 130 years old Grade II-listed footbridge at Beverley Station is set to close this week as to keep station users, locomotive drivers, and passengers safe, preceding a major refurbishment scheduled for 2023.
The bridge’s canopy has a rotting wooden canopy that hoods the risk of pieces falling onto the tracks below, presenting a major risk to safety of those traversing the line. To remove this risk, the bridge will see closure from the end of service on Friday 9 September until further notice.
Regular, daily maintenance checks have been conducted to ensure a safe area throughout the station’s regular operations day to day, however this is untenable and unsustainable as a solution. Complete renovation works have now become a necessity to ensure safety standards are upheld.
Upon approval from the East Riding Council to remove the bridge’s centuries-old wooden canopy, Network Rail have scheduled full refurbishment works to renovate the original cast iron structure during 2023. Multiple options were considered to preserve the heritage of the footbridge; however, the closure and renovation represented the only viable option to keep people safe while preserving as much of the heritage as possible.
Matt Rice, North & East Route Director for Network Rail said:
“I know how important this footbridge is to the heritage of Beverley station and how well-loved it is by passengers. That’s why we want to see it eventually refurbished and, crucially, made safe for people to use and trains to pass beneath.
“Closing the footbridge as soon as we can is the safest option, and it needs to happen. I’m sorry to anybody who is upset or inconvenienced by our decision. I’d like to thank East Riding Council; Historic England and our rail industry partners for their continued support.”
Originally thought to have been installed in the 1880’s, this footbridge is a historic piece of rail infrastructure that must be handled with extreme care and delicacy throughout the operation. Due to its status as a landmark structure, some of the original features have been offered to the National Railway Museum, to preserve the heritage of the railway.
Tony Baxter, Regional Director for Northern, said:
“The safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority, so we support the closure of the footbridge at this time. Of course, as a local landmark we look forward to its restoration and re-opening whereby it will continue to serve the rail users of Beverley for many more decades to come.”
Access between Beverley station’s two platforms will be maintained via the level crossing on Armstrong Way. Passengers should speak to station staff if they need any help and allow extra time for switching platforms.
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