Wednesday 2 Oct 2019
Listed luggage bridge to be restored at Worcester Shrub Hill station
- Region & Route:
- North West & Central
A Grade II listed former luggage bridge is being lovingly restored for passengers at Worcester Shrub Hill station.
The Georgian-style station was built between 1850-54 by nineteenth century railway engineer Edward Wilson and was first given listed building status in 1971.
In recent years the disused luggage bridge has fallen into disrepair but its railway heritage will now be saved as part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan.
The restoration also means the bridge could one day be brought back into passenger use should future funding be secured to replace the structure's lifts.
Lawrence James, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “This Railway Upgrade Plan work is essential to protect the bridge from the elements and we need to take action now before it cannot be saved. Passengers will benefit from the refurbishment as the station will look brighter and the structure of the bridge will be much safer.”
The bridge has to be lifted out by crane so it can be made safe and secure, and a new roof and windows will be fitted. The restored structure will then be repainted and craned back into position next spring.
Work will be taking place from 5 October until May 2020 and passengers are being advised that station car parking will be impacted during the restoration.
Spaces will be limited between 5 October – 29 November, and completely suspended on the weekend of the 15-17 November so the entire bridge can be removed by crane.
Car parking will return to normal while the bridge refurbishment work takes place off site for several months.
Then on 6 March some spaces will be needed to prepare for the bridge to be reinstated, and all parking suspended once again on the weekend of 21-22 March when the restored structure will be lifted back into its original position.
Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway, said: “We thank our customers who drive to Worcester Shrub Hill for their patience while Network Rail carries out these important works to improve the appearance of the station.”
Trains will not be disrupted while the bridge restoration takes place.
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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