Kidderminster Footbridge
Trains approaching Kidderminster station can be seen coming into view beneath Kidderminster Footbridge. The footbridge 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. The bridge carries a Network Rail plaque identifying it as Bridge 104, situated at 135 miles 22 chains. It has not been allocated a number in the SVR's List of infrastructure. Similar plaques from the BR era can still be seen on Worcester Road Bridge (Bridge 2) and Falling Sands Viaduct (Bridge 3).
Network Rail Bridge Number
A footbridge has existed at this location since it replaced a level crossing in the 19th century. Earlier bridges were of wooden construction, hence the current bridge is still sometimes referred to locally as 'the wooden bridge'[1].
In the second photograph, the two lines to the left lead to the platforms at Kidderminster. To the right is the line leading to the 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.
When the SVR first extended to Kidderminster in July 1984, they bought from BR the last section of the line to Kidderminster from the old boundary at Stourport Road Bridge, 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 owned and leased[2].