Press release -
Trains will run as normal as new footbridge is installed between Telford station and town centre.
Trains will run as normal this weekend, as the first section of the new footbridge connecting Telford railway station to the town centre is lifted into place.
Work will be taking place between midnight on Saturday (30 June) and 08.30 on Sunday (1 July).
There will no access to or from the station car park during this time and there will fewer parking spaces available overnight. Spaces will still be available at the far end of the car park.
The new bridge, weighing more than seven double decker buses, will require one of Europe’s largest cranes to lift it into place. The southbound side of the A442 approaching the bridge will be closed from Wednesday (27 June) for the crane to be delivered and assembled. The A442 will be closed in both directions during the lift.
Keen engineers and interested residents will be able to watch the lift from a nearby viewing platform or live stream on YouTube.
Richard Brooks, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway said: “As the lift is taking place between the last Saturday and first Sunday services, trains will be unaffected by the work and will run as normal. The new bridge is a vast improvement on the previous one and will create a more accessible and welcoming connection between Telford station and the town centre.”
Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for finance, commercial services and economic development, said: “These big structures show that this massive and extremely challenging project is really getting off the ground and making great progress. It’s also a reflection of the town’s development and how we are working to improve its infrastructure and gateway to the town centre.
“Anyone who has walked up the current bridge knows how steep and limiting they are. This funding means new lifts are being installed to help people with mobility issues and heavy load, glass panels along the main walkway will protect users from the elements and modern lighting will make a safer environment.”
The extreme weight and height on the lift means the whole operation is highly sensitive to weather conditions, particularly wind. The crane will stay on site until Wednesday 3 July as a contingency plan.
Visit telford.gov.uk/footbridge for further information.
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About West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains Ltd. will be running the West Midlands rail franchise from 10 December 2017 until 2025/6. Abellio has a 70.1% share of the company, East Japan Railway Company (JRE) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) own the remaining 29.9% in a 50:50 split.
About Abellio
Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Every day our people provide rail, bus and tram services to 1.7m customers across the UK, Germany and in the Netherlands. In the UK we operate buses through Abellio London, as well as ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, and Merseyrail in a joint venture with Serco. In Germany we operate Abellio Deutschland, serving communities in North Rhine Westfalia, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse and Thuringia. Our role in transport extends beyond the journey from a-to-b. With our international heritage and our policy of sharing best practice, not just amongst ourselves, but across the wider transport industry, we provide thought leadership and truly innovative ideas which make a positive contribution to the communities we serve. For more information on Abellio visit www.abellio.com
About Mitsui
Mitsui is one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world with 139 offices in 66 countries as of March, 2017. Utilising our global operating locations, network and information resources, we are multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: Iron & Steel Products, Mineral & Metal Resources, Infrastructure Projects, Integrated Transportation Systems, Chemicals, Energy, Food Resources, Food Products & Services, Consumer Services, IT & Communication, and Corporate Development Business. Mitsui is actively taking on challenges for global business innovation around the world. For more information, visit www.mitsui.com.
About JR East
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) was established in 1987, when Japanese National Railways was divided as part of a package of railway reforms. JR East’s railway business covers a 7,500 km (approx. 4,660 miles) network in the eastern part of the Japanese main island, including Tokyo Metropolitan area, and provides transportation services, comprising urban, suburban and high speed operations, for 17 million passengers on a daily basis. JR East also undertakes non‐transport commercial activities, which account for more than 30% of the total revenue of JR East Group. JR East contributes to passengers and communities it serves by delivering high degrees of punctuality, reliability and comfort and also continues to pursue higher levels of safety and service quality through technical innovation. For more information, visit www.jreast.co.jp/e.
