Theale Station Footbridge Set to Open Tomorrow After 10-Year Delay
Theale Station’s new footbridge finally opens tomorrow, a decade late and over budget, providing much-needed accessibility for all passengers
Theale, UK, Footbridge, Network Rail, Accessibility, Transport
Theale: The new footbridge at Theale Station is finally opening tomorrow. Can you believe it’s been ten years in the making? And it’s over £8 million over budget!
This project has been a long time coming. Network Rail has confirmed that the footbridge, complete with lifts, will be accessible for the first time since the station opened way back in 1847.
A spokesperson shared their excitement about the opening, saying they’re pleased to finally get it done. They also apologized for the delays, which were caused by various issues like fire safety and telecom problems. But those are all sorted now.
The plans for this footbridge were first announced in 2013, but funding issues kept pushing things back. Once the money was secured, work kicked off in January 2023 and wrapped up last spring.
Even though the footbridge was finished nearly a year ago, it’s been sitting closed. Olivia Bailey, the Labour MP for Reading West, has been vocal about the delays, calling them “beyond unacceptable.”
She’s been in touch with Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) about this, expressing her disappointment over their poor communication. It’s been a frustrating situation for her and the community.
Her predecessor even labeled this whole mess a “classic case study” of British bureaucracy gone wrong, with taxpayers footing the bill for the delays.
There’s also been a new ticket office that opened ten years ago, but it’s been in the wrong spot, making it a hassle for commuters to get to the platforms.
Teresa Howard, a local resident with arthritis, shared how the delays have impacted her. She used to take the train to London regularly, but now the steps are a real challenge.
She mentioned how inconvenient it is to have to rush across the car park just to get to the stairs, especially during busy times. It’s just not safe.
Network Rail has mentioned they’ll hold a small event to celebrate the project’s completion once everything settles down with the lifts. But honestly, who’s in the mood to celebrate after all this?
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