Special Christmas Present For Thameslink Commuters

Two years on from when Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps green lighted the construction of an additional footbridge at St Albans City Station, countdown has begun to completion of work at Thameslink’s busiest rail stop north of London.

The project was first announced towards the end of 2020 as part of the Secretary of State’s ‘Acceleration Unit’ initiative, designed to speed up transport infrastructure across the UK, post-COVID.

Now, the new second footbridge at St Albans City Station, which will serve all four platforms and ease congestion, is poised to be installed between now and Christmas.

HBPW Engineer, James Cable, who has worked on the engineering design of the structure with Partner, Paul Monaghan, and other members of the team, said: “Currently there is only one footbridge at this incredibly busy station, making for packed platforms and heavy congestion at peak periods of the day.

“However, with the addition of this second footbridge, passenger flows will improve dramatically, reducing queuing time to get on and off all platforms, particularly the central island area, which we know gets very crowded on key commuting days.”

Work on the bridge also follows on from the completion of Govia Thameslink Railway’s wider revamp of the station including new retail stores, improved toilets, additional cycle facilities and increased security.

James added: “Not only have we designed the footbridge, foundations and a raft of associated civil engineering works – the bulk of which are already completed on the design side – but a range of temporary works, delivered in anticipation of the pending bridge installation.

“Again, these temporary works will play their part in keeping the station operable until the new bridge is at maximum capacity post-Christmas 2022. They include crane foundations, temporary hoardings on the existing platform, access to platform 4’s pump house, modifications to the station office entrance waiting room and alterations to existing canopies, as well as Victoria Road overbridge’s parapets.”

St Albans city serves more than 7.5 million people a year thanks to extra services and longer trains now in operation.

Stephen Hind, Head of Business Development for Network Rail, told Rail Technology Magazine: “The footbridge will bring significant benefits by reducing crowding in the station at peak times, making it easier for rail users to move around the station and access platforms.”