Railway footbridge fully open after 10-month delay

A Victorian footbridge was replaced by a new one with lifts at St Erth railway station

A new footbridge at a rail station has fully opened after 10 months of delays.

The bridge at St Erth station in west Cornwall opened to passengers in February but the lifts have not been working.

Network Rail said the delay had been caused by the need to provide a new power supply including a new substation which National Grid said required legal agreement from several interested parties causing "significant delays".

Great Western Railway said the delays had been "very frustrating" as people not able to manage the steps had to be transported by bus between the platforms.

Transport Minister Peter Hendy was at the ceremony with representatives from National Rail, GWR and Cornwall Council

The delay in opening the lifts had been caused by the need for a separate power supply and National Grid had been unable to install a new power substation in time.

Joe Graham, from GWR, said: "The delays have been very frustrating, but we understand the backlogs National Grid were dealing with and now we're really pleased it's fully open.

"It was difficult, but we managed to cover that interim period and make sure people could travel accessibly."

A National Grid Electricity Distribution spokesperson said: "Before work to provide a new electricity supply at the station could start, we were required to obtain the legal agreement of several interested parties which did result in significant delays.

"We were able to begin work in June but were asked to delay until the end of the summer tourism season.

"When connection work was able to commence in September, it was completed within the revised timeframe."

Mr Bridgeland-Howarth said the delays had been frustrating but he was glad the lifts were now working

Sam Bridgeland-Howarth, from the GWR accessibility panel, said the delays had been "frustrating" but added "at least we can be assured the lifts are working safely".

The old Victorian footbridge has been removed and donated to East Somerset Heritage Railway.

National Rail (NR) said "various issues" had caused the delay at the station.

"Issues with the power supply for the lifts was the main cause of the delay as this needed a new distribution network operator from National Grid," it said.

"A land transfer from NR to Cornwall Council and vice versa had to be made for cables to be laid."