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Thursday 30 May 2013

Station footbridge restoration to be entered for national railway heritage award

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

A station footbridge restoration project in Wiltshire is to be entered into this year's National Railway Heritage Trust awards when it is completed.

Network Rail has repainted the platform canopies at the Grade 2 listed station at Bradford-on-Avon and is restoring the station footbridge to its former glory.

The footbridge was lifted out a few weeks ago and sent to a foundry in Plymouth for grit blasting and repair. When it is re-installed, the span and staircases will be painted in the original Great Western Railway colours of dark and light stone to reflect the station’s heritage status.

Network Rail route asset manager for buildings, Simon Gyde, said: “I have been liaising with the Friends of Bradford-on-Avon and the Mayor for some time now and the work at this listed station is nearing completion.

“We have just finished the restoration of the canopies at Bradford-on-Avon station and painted them in the original GWR colour scheme. In addition, station manager First Great Western has completed some vegetation management.

“The final stage will be to restore the original roof to the footbridge, which was removed some 30 years ago. The Friends of Bradford-on-Avon and the Mayor are really keen to do this and with The Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust will raise the funds for the project in due course.”

First Great Western's Bradford-on-Avon Station Manager Nicholas Reid said: "First Great Western prides itself on putting our customers first and supporting the communities we serve.

“We recognise the key role that rail travel has for the local and national economy and we are delighted to be able to work with Network Rail to ensure the timely completion of this restoration project.

"In the last year, over £85 million has been invested across our network of 210 stations, by working with rail industry partners, the Department for Transport and local authorities - improving facilities and access for all of our passengers."

Mayor of Bradford on Avon, Cllr John Potter, added: “The whole project is a great example of a large national organisation taking the trouble to restore and enhance the fabric of a much-admired and well-used community facility.”

David Moss, chairman of the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, said: “We strongly support restoration of this historic footbridge and look forward to helping raise the necessary funds."