Network Rail plan to close Tan Hill crossing and replace it with a footbridge

[whole diary]

[stuving]

The bridge finally opened in the first week of this month, but with so much reporting of the "wot no accessibility" arguments just beforehand it went unnoticed.  The bridge is literally not accessible, in the sense that there is no surfaced footpath to one end of it - you have to cross a (currently muddy) football pitch to reach it.

But that's the issue really. With steps at the footbridge, it was only ever a pedestrian path and not lit at that. NR^» (Network Rail - home page) found some cash for asset replacement, but that would always be like for like. To upgrade the whole route, the council would have to do the path and NR the bridge, each responding to the other's plans. But let's face it, neither has a reputation for reacting quickly to opportunities to spend money.

Anyway, there is one major innovation in this bridge - orange handrails! The other thing, which we knew about in advance, was the high parapets with lots of little holes in. In fact, the top of the steps at each end has very low sides and (apart from one big tree) an unobstructed view. If you insist you need to see straight up the track into the distance, there's always the holes to look through (ca. 2 cm).

There are some odd bits still missing, filled in by plywood - I have no idea why that is. And, inevitably, a big puddle on the deck.