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Wednesday 19 Mar 2008

ASCOT FOOTBRIDGE REACHES FINAL FURLONG

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

A new footbridge designed to reduce congestion at Ascot Station has been lifted into place.

Network Rail engineers oversaw the installation of the bridge in the early hours of Wednesday morning as the structure was lifted onto the station by crane.

The bridge links platforms 1 and 2 and will provide South West Trains passengers with access between platforms in addition to the existing station subway.

This new, permanent route will prove particularly valuable during Royal Ascot week, when hundreds of racegoers travel by train to Ascot Racecourse. Previously, a temporary footbridge had been erected by South West Trains for the duration of the race meeting.

David Pape, Network Rail Route Director, said: “The project to deliver the bridge was a success and we are delighted to have carried out this work for South West Trains to reduce congestion at the station during race week and for other events by installing a permanent solution.”

Mark Franklin, South West Trains' Station Manager at Ascot said: "Every year we erect a temporary bridge to improve access during race week and installing this permanent bridge will bring those benefits to the station all year round for both our passengers and staff. It will improve the flow of passengers around the station immensely during the Ascot race week in particular and is another example of South West Trains and Network Rail working together to improve stations across our network."

The footbridge is expected to be open for passenger use by the end of April.