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Tuesday 17 Jan 2006

NEW STAIRS FOR GARSWOOD STATION

Region & Route:

Train users at Garswood station have an uplifting start to the New Year, as the finishing touches are put to the new footbridge at the station. The £330,000 project started last summer with the construction of a temporary footbridge linking the two platforms. This enabled the demolition of the old footbridge, which had reached the end of its useful life. Work was mainly at weekends to avoid disrupting weekday train services.  Having excavated the old footings that supported the steps, liquid concrete was poured into the holes in the platforms before new concrete footings were cast with metal bolts set into them ready to take the steel superstructure to support the steps. The staircases were manufactured off-site and lowered and bolted into position by crane when no trains were running. Ribbed paving was installed at the bottom of the steps to indicate to blind people and those with poor eyesight a change in levels as they go up or down the steps and the platform area around the staircases was finished off with a new tarmac surface. The new steps compliment the re-built ticket office and waiting room which were completed last year.