Footbridge returning to Lostwithiel railway station

A railway footbridge will return to a Cornish station after 50 years without one, engineers say.

Network Rail has confirmed plans for a temporary structure to be built in Lostwithiel this summer while proposals for a permanent bridge are developed.

A footbridge was removed in the late 1960s, with a level crossing currently in place on Grenville Road.

Network Rail said the bridge would improve access between platforms and safety for passengers and pedestrians.

A statement from the public rail body said the current level crossing barriers could be lowered for an average of 22 minutes an hour while trains used the Cornish main line.

Another railway crossing is open on A390 Liddicoat Road to the north of the town, Network Rail added.

The body said plans for a permanent footbridge at Lostwithiel station were being prepared to submit to the Department for Transport after a previous design was rejected for not meeting safety requirements.

Bogdan Lupu, Network Rail's industry programme director, said the bridge plans were putting passengers first.

Mr Lupu said: "It will benefit people who need to cross the railway and prevent the level crossing from being misused.

"We've been working hard for a long time to solve this problem of crossing the railway, and this first step shows our commitment to Lostwithiel."

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