Media centre

Friday 16 Dec 2016

Network Rail submits plans for second Lincoln footbridge

Region & Route:

| Eastern

Network Rail has submitted plans to build a footbridge over the Brayford Wharf East level crossing in Lincoln city centre.

The crossing at Brayford Wharf sees almost 7,000 vehicles and over 16,000 pedestrians use it every day, as well as around 140 freight and passengers trains.

The footbridge forms part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, and should the plans be approved by Lincoln City Council, it will provide permanent stepped access over the busy railway so that pedestrians no longer have to stand and wait at the barriers.

New footage (available to download from the Network Rail media centre) from earlier this year shows the scale of the problem, with a member of the public jumping the barriers and narrowly coming into contact with an oncoming train.

In June this year, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney officially opened the footbridge at nearby High Street level crossing which has significantly reduced the risk of a safety incident there.

Once the planning decision for Brayford Wharf East is made, Network Rail will begin the tendering process to find a construction firm to build the bridge. Timescales for when construction will begin will be confirmed once a contractor is in place.

Stephen Hind, route enhancements manager for Network Rail, said: “I am delighted that after lots of work behind the scenes we are able to submit our proposals for the bridge at Brayford Wharf to the planning authority. With the bridge at High Street now open we are fulfilling our long-standing commitment to the people of Lincoln to make their railway crossings safer.”