Rail station bridge replacement lowered into place

A new footbridge has been put in place at a historic railway station in southern Scotland.

There were concerns the structure could be "out of scale" with the B-listed Victorian buildings in Dumfries.

However, Network Rail's plans for the site were approved in order to improve passenger access.

The new £3.6m structure was lowered into position at the weekend.

The installation required a 500-tonne crane and a 110-tonne crane to complete.

It is hoped the new bridge can open to passengers in the summer

Project manager Amanda Naughton said the installation of the new steel structure marked a "key milestone".

"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 that this new accessible footbridge will bring," she said.

The new bridge weighs 51 tonnes and has 2,389 individual parts, pieced together with nearly 1,000 bolts.

It incorporates elements from the original footbridge at Dumfries station, including a saltire design on the bridge parapet and curved detail on the bridge deck.