Media centre

Monday 29 Apr 2019

Bridge lift is a step up for Stirling station

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail is advising that buses will replace trains between Stirling and Alloa on Sunday May 5 while the renovated Stirling station footbridge will be lifted back into position over the May Bank holiday weekend.

The footbridge, which connects platforms six and nine at the station, has been closed since August last year with a temporary structure maintaining the link for passengers while the lattice bridge was refurbished in keeping with the heritage character of the station.

The refurbished footbridge will be reinstalled higher above the rails to accommodate the newly electrified line underneath and will become part of a fully accessible structure with the installation of a new lift on platform nine to provide step-free access to all platforms within the station.

To allow the bridge to be lifted in safely, Forthside Way will be closed to traffic on both Saturday and Sunday to enable the construction and dismantling of the crane as well as the lifting operation itself – which will be done overnight and throughout Sunday when trains are not running on the line between Stirling and Alloa.

Kenny MacDonald, Network Rail’s programme manager for the project, said: “This weekend is an important milestone in our work to improve access at the station while accommodating the space we need beneath the bridge for the electrified railway to run safely.

“Once complete, Stirling station will have full step free access across all platforms – which will be a huge step-forward in improving the travelling experience at the station for those with restricted mobility or travelling with luggage or prams, bikes or buggies.

“While it may be inconvenient in the short term, we thank station users and the lineside communities for their patience as we deliver this important element of the project.”

Delivering step free access to platforms six and nine is part of an overall package of work at Stirling station which includes;

• Refurbishing and raising the footbridge for overhead wires to be installed
• Alterations to the roof canopy
• Installation of a lift on platform nine to provide step-free access
• Reconstruction of the staircase on platform nine
• Alterations to the internal landing areas between footbridge and existing lift on platform three.

The bridge works are part of the wider project on the Stirling line which electrified the route as part of a Scottish Government-funded investment delivered by Network Rail.

Electrification of central Scotland’s rail network reduces journey times from Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh, increases capacity on peak services and provides longer, faster greener trains.

Passengers travelling between Stirling and Alloa on Sunday May 5 should leave extra time for travel, and plan ahead. Further information is available at www.scotrail.co.uk as well as on the ScotRail app.