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Thursday 3 Nov 2022

Restoration for historic station footbridge on the Cumbrian Coast line

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Passengers will soon benefit from the major overhaul of an historic station footbridge on the Cumbrian Coast line.

Network Rail is investing £450,000 to lovingly restore the railway crossing at Harrington station on the picturesque route between Workington and Whitehaven.

As part of the investment, the Victorian stairs and overbridge will be strengthened, and the steel will be grit blasted and fully repainted in its heritage colours by contractor Taziker.

Regular maintenance has kept the 19^th century railway crossing in good condition over the years, but the bridge is now in need of a complete restoration.

So last weekend it was lifted away for the 12-week repairs to take place at Taziker’s factory in St Helen’s.

Reece Holland, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “Harrington station’s 19^th century footbridge is a key historic feature of the station and this major investment will ensure it remains safe and reliable for passengers for decades to come.

“Whenever we carry out work like this we take great care to make sure it’s done sensitively and is in keeping with the railway’s heritage. This wouldn’t have been possible without the close partnership with Community Rail Cumbria to make sure that the paint work is in-keeping with the original design.”

Warren Birch, community rail partnership officer from Community Rail Cumbria, said: “Community Rail Cumbria welcomes the recent investment to Harrington railway station and the benefits this will bring to rail passengers and local residents, these ongoing improvements are crucial to the Cumbrian Coast line and the towns and villages it serves.

“It’s been a pleasure to work in collaboration with the station adopters from West House and contractors Taziker, creating a biodiversity area within the railway station that will start to flourish in the spring of 2023.” 

Passengers will be able to use a temporary footbridge to access both platforms while the work takes place.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “It’s great to see a historic feature of the station being so sensitively restored. Along with our customers, I look forward to seeing the much-loved footbridge return to the Cumbrian Coast line very soon.”

Mark Jenkinson, MP for Workington, said: ““I welcome this £450k investment to refurbish an important piece of Harrington’s railway heritage for future generations to enjoy.

“The work complements projects underway across my constituency to sensitively conserve our historic landmarks, including multi-million pound investments in Maryport via the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) and the Future High Street Funds.

“I have always been a staunch defender of our heritage from the Duffield Beacon to Christ Church in Maryport. The need to save Grade I listed Workington Hall was one of the main reasons why I decided to go into politics in the first place.”

No trains will be disrupted while the work is carried out.

The footbridge will be put back in pride of place in January 2023 for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.