Safety concerns force temporary closure of historic Beverley station footbridge
NETWORK Rail has been forced to close the North Eastern Railway footbridge at Beverley station ahead of a planned refurbishment of the Grade II listed structure because of safety concerns.
A combination of a rotting wooden canopy and a rise in antisocial behaviour has led to the move.
The footbridge closed on September 9 to allow pieces of the weakened canopy to be removed and prevent them falling on the tracks. Until now, staff have carried out daily safety checks, but this was a temporary and unsustainable solution.
A controversial plan to remove the wooden canopy has been approved by East Riding Council, and during 2023, Network Rail will complete this work and fully refurbish the original cast iron structure. Other options were explored but not viable, and the chosen solution will preserve as much of the 1880s structure as possible. Historic England has approved Network Rail’s proposals and some of the original canopy features have been offered to the National Railway Museum.
Access between platforms will be via the level crossing until the refurbished footbridge reopens.