Network Rail engineers worked through the night to install the steel structures on Saturday 23 March at the South Lanarkshire station which serves passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line – one of the busiest lines in Europe.
It’s part of the Access for All (AfA) scheme, which invests in making it easier for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children, or bicycles to access platforms at stations across the UK.
Work is continuing on the project with the footbridge and lifts set to be opened to the public shortly after the old footbridge is removed in June.
Susan Menmuir, scheme project manager for Network Rail said: “Delivering a structure of this size onto the platform is a huge achievement. We’ve worked collaboratively with our principal contractor STORY while liaising with ScotRail, South Lanarkshire Council and British Transport Police to ensure this was done safely and on time.
“Working through the night provides the safest environment for our teams to work in and the least disruption for passengers. We thank the public for their cooperation and understanding while the car park was closed to allow these crucial works.
“There is still a lot to do before passengers will be able to use the footbridge and the lifts, but we hope everyone living nearby and using the station is pleased with the progress so far and is looking forward to the benefits of having a fully accessible station.”
The existing bridge will remain in operation until it is removed in June with the new footbridge and lifts expected to be open shortly afterwards.
The total weight of the whole structure is 75-tonnes with the largest component – the bridge deck – weighing approximately 15-tonnes. Engineers used a 230-tonne crane and a 60-tonne crane to lift the superstructure into place.
Image credit: Network Rail
