Media centre

Tuesday 23 Sep 2014

Dunblane station’s new £3m footbridge opens for Ryder Cup

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Transport Minister Keith Brown today (Tuesday, September 23) joined Network Rail to officially open the new fully-accessible footbridge and lifts at Dunblane station.

Delivered ahead of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the bridge represents an investment of £3m in the station and delivers step-free access under the Access for All scheme – which is designed to improve access within stations for people with impaired mobility or travelling with luggage, children and cycles.

Constructed over the last seven months, the bridge includes lifts and stairs and replaces the old, Stirling Council-owned, footbridge. Step-free access is provided from the station entrance onto the platforms and over to the car park adjacent to Tesco.

Due to the need to minimise the visual impact of the new structure in a conservation area, the sympathetic design contains finishes in keeping with those of the surrounding buildings.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “This is a very significant investment in the station which underscores the importance of maximising access to rail travel for all in our communities.

“Although it was important to deliver this ahead of the Ryder Cup, the bridge will not only contribute to getting passengers to and from Gleneagles, it will serve the community of Dunblane and its rail travellers for many, many years to come.”

David Dickson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: “The bridge at Dunblane delivers modern standards of accessibility within the historic context of the station and the physical constraints of the site.

“Dunblane is the latest station to benefit from investment through the Access for All scheme and provides a huge improvement in the facilities for those travelling to or from Dunblane. Rail travel is more popular now than ever before and this bridge will help ensure everyone in the community has the opportunity to use the station and enable even more people to travel by train."

Steve Montgomery, managing director of First ScotRail, said: "We are continuously seeking opportunities to make travel more accessible and it is wonderful to see these new facilities at Dunblane station."