Bridge parapets to be raised for safety
Network Rail has confirmed that they are going to have to carry out modification work on Stirling’s Seaforth Bridge.
Rumours had been sweeping the city that the £4.5million Shore Road structure – which opened to traffic in April, 2014 – was going to have to be completely rebuilt because it doesn’t comply with new regulations relating to gaps between the train, powerlines and the bridge.
However, the company yesterday (Tuesday) admitted that while they will have to raise the heights of the parapets, no other work is necessary.
Higher parapets are required over electrified lines for safety reasons and to deter children from dangling wires over the edge.
Seaforth Bridge had to be replaced as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) involving the electrification of more lines.
During the work, regulations to bring Britain’s rail industry system in accord with those in Europe changed.
Operators had to ensure that the gap between electric wire and underside of bridges was increased from 150 millimetres to 270 millimetres.
And for safety reasons, the height of bridge parapets had to be 1.8 metres instead of the old standard of 1.5metres. A spokesman for Network Rail insisted the Seaforth Bridge would meet the standard concerning the gap between the underside of the bridge and electric wires.
He added:“There are no issues with running overhead power lines under the current structure and it doesn’t need to be rebuilt.
“We are raising the height of the parapets to comply with EU standards .
“These standards have changed since EGIP was planned, with our bridgeworks on-site from January, 2012, while Euro TSI OLE standards (aimed at streamlining standards between the rail networks of different European countries) came in mid-2014.
“There is no date yet for when the Shore Road works will take place.”
Network Rail applied for planning permission to up the parapet height of eight rail bridges in Stirling Council area, including Seaforth Bridge.
The new £4.5m Seaforth Bridge was officially opened in April, 2014, by the then Transport Minister Keith Brown following a nine-month project in which Shore Road was closed or restricted for much of that period.
Apart from the Shore Road, the bridges requiring work are at Lecropt Hill, Bridge of Allan; Gallamuir Farm Road, Gallamuir Road and Carseview, all Cowie; East of Mill of Keir House and Bridgend, both Dunblane, and Plean Mill Road, Plean.
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