| Re: South Bank railway station footbridge - near Middlesbrough Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:22, 13th October 2026 |     |
An update, from the BBC:
Two-year train platform closure 'unacceptable'
No date has been set for the reopening of the footbridge at South Bank station - Image © Daniel Hodgson
The two-year closure of a station platform which is forcing passengers to use a rail-replacement bus is "unacceptable", a councillor has said.
Passengers have been unable to access platform two at South Bank train station, near Middlesbrough, after safety concerns were raised about the footbridge leading to it.
Trains that previously called at the station, on the way to Redcar, now pass non-stop and the service has been replaced by a bus. Labour councillor Carl Quartermain said the 30-minute bus was not a "satisfactory long-term substitute" for the far quicker train.
Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and Network Rail said they were working to solve the problem.
Earlier plans to reopen platform two involved demolishing the footbridge and constructing a temporary replacement. But earlier this year TVCA said it would finance an alternative temporary solution to "strengthen" the existing structure to bring it back into use.
Eastbound trains have not stopped at South Bank for two years - Image © Daniel Hodgson
Quartermain said plans to reopen platform access had faced technical, legal and ownership issues, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Network Rail said it was working to resolve ownership and liability issues regarding the bridge and that the structure's transfer to the organisation from Redcar and Cleveland Council was in its final stages. It also said it had appointed a contractor to carry out the works when they began.
A TVCA spokesperson said the bridge closure had taken longer than it should have and that the situation had been complex. "That solution is for Network Rail to take responsibility for the bridge and carry out the repairs needed to bring it back into use," they said. "The legal process is progressing and all partners are committed to reopening the bridge as soon as possible."
Westbound services to Middlesbrough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland remain unaffected.
No date has been set for the reopening of the footbridge at South Bank station - Image © Daniel Hodgson
The two-year closure of a station platform which is forcing passengers to use a rail-replacement bus is "unacceptable", a councillor has said.
Passengers have been unable to access platform two at South Bank train station, near Middlesbrough, after safety concerns were raised about the footbridge leading to it.
Trains that previously called at the station, on the way to Redcar, now pass non-stop and the service has been replaced by a bus. Labour councillor Carl Quartermain said the 30-minute bus was not a "satisfactory long-term substitute" for the far quicker train.
Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and Network Rail said they were working to solve the problem.
Earlier plans to reopen platform two involved demolishing the footbridge and constructing a temporary replacement. But earlier this year TVCA said it would finance an alternative temporary solution to "strengthen" the existing structure to bring it back into use.
Eastbound trains have not stopped at South Bank for two years - Image © Daniel Hodgson
Quartermain said plans to reopen platform access had faced technical, legal and ownership issues, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Network Rail said it was working to resolve ownership and liability issues regarding the bridge and that the structure's transfer to the organisation from Redcar and Cleveland Council was in its final stages. It also said it had appointed a contractor to carry out the works when they began.
A TVCA spokesperson said the bridge closure had taken longer than it should have and that the situation had been complex. "That solution is for Network Rail to take responsibility for the bridge and carry out the repairs needed to bring it back into use," they said. "The legal process is progressing and all partners are committed to reopening the bridge as soon as possible."
Westbound services to Middlesbrough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland remain unaffected.
| Re: South Bank railway station footbridge - near Middlesbrough Posted by bobm at 21:43, 11th April 2026 | |
Alerting the pedant in me
Trains and passengers have been unable to access platform two at South Bank train station, near Middlesbrough, for 18 months after safety concerns were raised at an inspection.
I suspect the trains could access the platform. There just wasn’t much point.
| Re: South Bank railway station footbridge - near Middlesbrough Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:04, 11th April 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Unsafe train station bridge now to be reinforced
No date has been set for the reopening of the footbridge at South Bank station
An unsafe railway footbridge will now be strengthened, rather than demolished.
Trains and passengers have been unable to access platform two at South Bank train station, near Middlesbrough, for 18 months after safety concerns were raised at an inspection.
The plan had been to demolish the footbridge and construct a temporary replacement, ahead of a wider transport project involving redeveloping the station. However, it has now been confirmed the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) will finance an alternative temporary solution to "strengthen" the existing structure to bring it back into use.
Network Rail is said to be working with TVCA and other stakeholders to get the project moved forward, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Although, neither were willing to put a date on when the bridge and platform two could be reopened, following the last self-imposed target of August 2025 for a solution being missed.
Eastbound trains have not stopped at South Bank for a year-and-a-half
The footbridge provided sole access to eastbound platform two, transporting passengers to Redcar and Saltburn.
When it was open, the footbridge also provided access to the north of the station to Teesworks.
Trains that previously called at South Bank on the way to Redcar now pass through the station non-stop, while westbound services to Middlesbrough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland remain unaffected.
Network Rail said ownership of the footbridge was being transferred to it from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. A spokesperson said: "This will help move the project forward as we work with the local authority to finalise funding for the work needed to strengthen the structure. Once the necessary agreements are in place, we will move forward with appointing a contractor."
No date has been set for the reopening of the footbridge at South Bank station
An unsafe railway footbridge will now be strengthened, rather than demolished.
Trains and passengers have been unable to access platform two at South Bank train station, near Middlesbrough, for 18 months after safety concerns were raised at an inspection.
The plan had been to demolish the footbridge and construct a temporary replacement, ahead of a wider transport project involving redeveloping the station. However, it has now been confirmed the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) will finance an alternative temporary solution to "strengthen" the existing structure to bring it back into use.
Network Rail is said to be working with TVCA and other stakeholders to get the project moved forward, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Although, neither were willing to put a date on when the bridge and platform two could be reopened, following the last self-imposed target of August 2025 for a solution being missed.
Eastbound trains have not stopped at South Bank for a year-and-a-half
The footbridge provided sole access to eastbound platform two, transporting passengers to Redcar and Saltburn.
When it was open, the footbridge also provided access to the north of the station to Teesworks.
Trains that previously called at South Bank on the way to Redcar now pass through the station non-stop, while westbound services to Middlesbrough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland remain unaffected.
Network Rail said ownership of the footbridge was being transferred to it from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. A spokesperson said: "This will help move the project forward as we work with the local authority to finalise funding for the work needed to strengthen the structure. Once the necessary agreements are in place, we will move forward with appointing a contractor."
| Re: South Bank railway station footbridge - near Middlesbrough Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:43, 14th October 2024 | |
From that quote from the BBC:
In March, Labour's South Bank councillor Neil Bendelow said the bridge, which was also inaccessible to wheelchair users, was in a poor condition and an upgrade was required urgently.
Apparently, nothing much was done, the footbridge still being used daily - until over six months later, when this suddenly happened:
A railway footbridge has been closed off indefinitely after an inspection uncovered safety concerns.
So, those 'safety concerns' have been there for at least six months, without any action being taken - until now.
| South Bank railway station footbridge - near Middlesbrough Posted by grahame at 22:35, 13th October 2024 | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c153ylednqlo
A railway footbridge has been closed off indefinitely after an inspection uncovered safety concerns.
The facility, at South Bank railway station, near Middlesbrough, provides access to platform two serving eastbound train services between the town and Saltburn.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which has responsibility for the bridge, said it would be working with engineers on a long-term plan for the crossing.
Rail operator Northern said minibuses were operating in order to allow passengers to travel between Middlesbrough, South Bank and Redcar Central station.
The facility, at South Bank railway station, near Middlesbrough, provides access to platform two serving eastbound train services between the town and Saltburn.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which has responsibility for the bridge, said it would be working with engineers on a long-term plan for the crossing.
Rail operator Northern said minibuses were operating in order to allow passengers to travel between Middlesbrough, South Bank and Redcar Central station.
