Section of Stowmarket train station car park closed as preparation works begin for new bridge with lifts

A section of a train station car park has been closed as preparation works begin for a new steel bridge with lifts.

Preparations are under way at Stowmarket train station for the installation of a ‘revolutionary’ steel bridge with lifts — resulting in the closure of a section of the station’s car park.

Greater Anglia has confirmed that preliminary ground works have begun, marking the start of the long-awaited project initially announced in June 2022.

The work was delayed from its original start date at the end of 2023 until now — however, the reason behind the delay is still unclear at this time.

The bridge design, called AVA, will replace the station’s existing concrete footbridge and is designed to improve accessibility with ‘plug-and-play’ lifts which are expected to halve the time needed for on-site installation.

Stowmarket rail station was granted funding in 2019 for accessibility improvements as part of the Government’s Access for All scheme.

In August, constructors and clients were given the chance to ‘try before they buy’ with a fully-functioning prototype of the bridge constructed in Kent.

Further updates from Greater Anglia are expected to be shared with the public in the near future.