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[[File:SVR train approaching Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1710015Kidderminster_Footbridge_20221016.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR 5029 "Nunney Castle" approaches Kidderminster under Footbridge (October 2022)]]'''Kidderminster Footbridge''' is located at the footbridgesouth end of [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster station]]. The footbridge, which is owned and managed by Network Rail, carries a public right of way between Hoo Road (near Kidderminster Harriers Football Club) and Chester Road South, crossing over both the SVR lines and the adjacent Kidderminster to Hartlebury main line. There is no direct access between the footbridge and the SVR.

Trains approaching [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster station]] can be seen coming into view beneath '''Kidderminster Footbridge'''. A footbridge has existed at this location since it replaced a level crossing in the 19th century. <ref group="note">The date of the first bridge is uncertain. The area it crosses would have become wider and more busy when the [[Kidderminster Loop Line|Loop Line to Bewdley]] opened in 1878, but the [[Loop Line specification and contract]] did not mention a new or extended footbridge at Kidderminster.</ref> Earlier One or more of the earlier bridges were of wooden construction, hence the current bridge is still sometimes referred to locally as 'the wooden bridge'.<ref>SVR Souvenir Guide</ref> Peter Fursdon, a former footplateman at [[Kidderminster Shed]] in the 1950s, recalled it as being called the 'Black Bridge'.<ref>Fursdon, Peter, 'My Railway Journey', SVR News 215, Autumn 2021, p. 52</ref>A new bridge was installed in October 2022.

==Recent history and proposed extension==When the SVR first reached Kidderminster in [[The footbridge carries a public right development of way between Hoo Road Kidderminster Town Station | July 1984]], [[SVR(near H)]] bought from BR the last section of the line to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club) and Chester from the old boundary at [[Stourport Road SouthBridge]], crossing over both but at that stage had only leased the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which the station was built. The footbridge marked the boundary between the areas that the SVR lines owned and leased.<ref>SVR News 72</ref> Following the adjacent successful extension of the railway to Kidderminster , an application to Hartlebury main linethe Heritage Lottery Fund was submitted on 30 April 1997, titled the 'SVR Heritage Project' for the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] and other items. There is no direct access between This included a proposed extension to the footbridge to allow better road and pedestrian access to the SVRsite. The bridge also carries HLF requested a high voltage power cablescaled-down application, and although the extension was still included it was ultimately dropped.<ref>SVR News 128-129</ref>  In 2000 the SVR raised further funds for that project, sufficient to allow SVR(H) to announce at the 2000 AGM that the extension to the footbridge would go ahead. However, the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]] led to these plans being put on hold.<ref>SVR News 133, 134</ref>

Kidderminster_Footbridge_20150528.jpg | Kidderminster footbridge in (2015 )

The 2015 photograph above main picture (top right) shows the view approaching new footbridge on the station and morning of Sunday 16 October, a few hours after it had been lifted into position, looking north, towards the station with the bridge's west abutment on the left.<ref group="note">The 2022 picture is taken from a service leaving Platform 1 as it crosses with an incoming service approaching platform 2.</ref> The 2015 photograph above shows the same view of the former bridge. From left to right as seeseen, the track next to the west abutment allows pedestrian and vehicle access to the [[Diesel Depot]] and [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] south of the bridge. The two lines to the left lead to the platforms at [[Kidderminster]]. To the right is the line leading to the [[Connection to Network Rail | connection to the main line]] and to the [[Carriage Repair Works]]. Beyond the fence is the Network Rail main line from Hartlebury to Kidderminster, originally part of the OW&W. The bridge seen was demolished in early 2022 as part of a replacement project by Network Rail.

==Extension and 2022 replacement==When Long-mooted plans by Network Rail to replace the SVR first extended to Kidderminster footbridge received financial approval in [[2021, with works originally programmed from December until May 2022. The development design of Kidderminster Town Station | July 1984]]the new bridge is a single-span constructed in 'weathering steel' with new concrete abutments at each end. Network Rail's plans, [[in conjunction with the SVR(H)]] bought from BR the last section of the line 's need to Kidderminster from prepare the old boundary at [[Stourport Road BridgeBridgnorth MPD]]for the upcoming Roof and Crane project, but at that stage had only leased led to the former Comberton Hill Goods Yard on which start of the station was built. The footbridge marked SVR's 2022 operating season being delayed until the boundary between the areas that the SVR owned and leasedbeginning of April 2022.<ref>SVR News 72201</ref>

Following The old bridge spans were lifted out and the central pier were demolished in the successful extension early morning of Sunday 13 February 2022. Demolition of the railway to Kidderminster, an application to west abutment was completed the Heritage Lottery Fund was submitted on 30 April 1997following day, titled with the ‘SVR Heritage Project’ footpath embankment being dug away to allow for the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] and other itemsexcavation of the pier base. This included a proposed extension to The east abutment was demolished over the footbridge to allow better road and pedestrian access to the siteweekend of 12-13 March. The HLF requested a scaledA 9-down application, and although minute timelapse video of the removal of the extension was still included it was ultimately droppedold spans is available on [https://www.youtube.<ref>SVR News 128-129<com/ref> watch?v=g7xy7c6TbVg YouTube].

In 2000 The installation of the SVR raised further funds replacement bridge was delayed and eventually rescheduled for the weekend of 8-9 October 2022. By coincidence, a national rail strike on the Saturday meant that no train movements were taking place on the main line that projectday. The SVR granted a 'total possession' to the contractors, sufficient allowing a large crane to allow be positioned on the SVR(H) 's running lines to carry out the lift in the early hours of Sunday 9 October. However, problems with the paperwork involving the Police escort of the bridge to announce at the 2000 AGM Railway meant that only the two sets of end steps were delivered, with the Western steps being installed and the East set placed ready for installation. The rest of the extension work was delayed until the following weekend. The main span was eventually delivered to site on Friday 14 October. the footbridge would go ahead40 ton bridge was lifted initially to allow the fitting of the smoke plates, however due to issues lining up the bolt holes, this was abandoned due to time constraints and the bridge was lifted into place at around 5. However00am on Sunday 16 October, followed by the eastern steps. Both sets of lifting operations were relayed live on YouTube via the SVR's Railcam. The smoke plates were fitted to the underside of the bridge using a block and tackle suspended from the bridge. MEWPs and a Mobile tower scaffold were used to gain access to the bolted connections. The smoke plates were installed over the Up and Down Main and Up and Down Loop on Wednesday 19 October with the remaining smoke plate over the Exchange Line fitted in the early hours of Sunday 23 October due to the need for the adjacent NR line to be blocked. The fitting of the final smoke plate completed the fitting of the steelwork for the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]] led structure. The bridge reopened to these plans being put the public on holdMonday 31 October.<ref>SVR News 133, 134</ref>

Long-mooted plans by Network Rail to replace The main span of the footbridge received financial approval in 2021, with works originally programmed bridge is made from December until May 2022[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel weathering steel]. The design alloy steel will be allowed to form a patina of rust crust, which will form a protective layer over the steel acting as its protection system. This is now a single-span constructed common construction material for Network Rail bridges as in ‘weathering steel’ with new abutments at each endtheory the bridge should never need painting. It is expected to take 5 years for the bridge 'crust' to be 'mature'. The stairs and inside of the parapets are painted holly green.

The old bridge spans were lifted out and demolition <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Kidderminster_Footbridge_20221009_Railcam.jpg|Lifting of the central pier were completed steps in the early morning of Sunday 13 February 2022. Demolition of the west abutment was completed the following day, with the footpath embankment being dug away to allow for the excavation of the pier baseprogress on RailcamKidderminster_Footbridge_20221009_Chris_Baines. jpg|The east abutment was demolished side steps cross over the weekend of 12-13 March.SVR (photo by Chris Baines)New concrete abutments were installed during the spring of 2022. However, it was not until October 2022 that the new single-span footbridge was installed. Initially, it was planned to install the bridge on the evening of Saturday 8 October, which coincided with national rail strikes. However, problems with the paperwork involving the Police escort of the bridge to the Railway meant that only the eastern steps were installed. Finally, a week later in the early hours of Sunday 16 October 2022, the new bridge and western steps were lifted into place.</gallery>

*[[Kidderminster|Kidderminster Station]]<br>*[[List of infrastructure]]<br>*[[Kidderminster Turntable | Towards Bridgnorth]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/>

<references />[[Category:Featured articles]]