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Friday 29 Sep 2017

Westerton’s new accessible footbridge takes shape

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Work to provide step-free access at Westerton station is entering a key stage this weekend as engineers prepare to construct a new accessible footbridge over the railway.

From Saturday afternoon, the station car park will be temporarily closed to set-up a 200 tonne crane that will lift and move steel beams in to position on Sunday as construction work on the new structure continues.

Work to improve accessibility at the station has been ongoing since June and is scheduled to complete in February 2018.

The project is being delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s Access for All scheme designed to improve stations for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles.

When complete, Westerton station’s footbridge will include lifts and stairs and will replace the existing bridge which will be removed after the new structure has opened.

Step-free access will be provided from the station entrance over the railway and onto the platforms to maintain the link between the two lineside communities.

To enable the delivery and build of the new footbridge, Westerton station car park will close between 12 noon on Saturday, September 30, and 20:30 on Sunday, October 1. The station will remain open, but parking will not be permitted during this time.

Billy McKay, Network Rail programme manager, said: “This weekend our engineers will begin to install a new accessible footbridge at Westerton station, marking a key stage in our programme to provide step-fee access for passengers.

“Steel beams will be craned in to site, meaning the station car park will need to temporarily close while we complete this vital part of the project.”

Anyone with questions about this work can contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For latest information and progress updates follow on twitter @NetworkRailScot